Siheung City (Mayor Lim Byeong-taek) completed aerial pest control using unmanned aerial vehicles (unmanned helicopters, drones) on the 24th. This aerial pest control, which began last month, was carried out three times in total, targeting approximately 800 ha of rice cultivation areas.
Aerial pest control is a farming support project promoted by the city to resolve the labor shortage caused by the aging of farmers and to increase pest control efficiency through timely joint pest control, thereby stably producing high-quality rice.
Aerial pest control using unmanned aerial vehicles sprays precisely from a height of about 2 to 3 meters, allowing the pesticide to penetrate to the bottom of the crop, reducing the amount of flying debris compared to manual spraying, making it a highly effective method for preventing diseases and pests.
Through joint pest control, the difficulties of individual pesticide spraying are resolved and various pest damages such as planthoppers, stink bugs, moths, leaf spot disease, and blast disease that affect rice quality and quantity are prevented.
This year, the pest control was carried out three times in total: ▲1st period July 10-11 ▲2nd period August 5-6 ▲3rd period August 23-24.
Kim Mi-hwa, head of the Siheung City Agricultural Technology Division, said, “Siheung City is using eco-friendly organic agricultural materials and reducing the amount of pesticides that are overused or misused, especially through precise pest control using unmanned aerial vehicles.” She added, “We are striving to maintain a sustainable agricultural environment and contribute to the production of healthy and safe Siheung rice through timely pest control.” She also asked, “Even after aerial pest control, I ask that each farm continue to pay attention to forecasting and pest control to produce high-quality rice.”
For related inquiries, contact the Siheung City Agricultural Technology Center, Agricultural Technology Division (031-310-6225).
Department in charge: Agricultural Technology and Environmental Agriculture Team (031-310-6223, 6222)
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