Crop Damages

[Anchor Lead]

The damage done to crops in Korea by pests and disease was particularly severe this year because of the unusually hot spring weather and heavy rain storms in the summer. Ginseng farmers in Yeongju, Gyeonsangbuk-do Province are suffering extensive damages from rapidly spreading ginseng anthracnose ahead of the harvest season.

[Pkg]

Most of these ginseng leaves have dark spots. In severe cases the leaves and stems have turned yellow and have withered completely. Ginseng anthracnose had spread to ruin the ginseng plants in this farm. In the areas around Yeongju, one of the main ginseng producing towns in Korea, the number of ginseng farms hit by ginseng anthracnose this year is five times more than last year. Conditions for the disease breakout were made optimal by the hot, humid weather. In particular, the frequent rain showers have accelerated the spread of ginseng anthracnose, which becomes rapidly contagious with rain. The damage was particularly extensive this year because farmers had used less pesticide to grow better quality crops since the weather had been quite dry until early July.

[Soundbite] Kim Dong-bon(Ginseng Farmer) : "I didn't spray for the disease because the weather forecasts said it wouldn't rain much this year. But the rainy season lasted much longer, causing great damages."

It wasn't easy to contain the damage after the disease broke out. Continuous light showers in July and August kept the farmers from promptly preventing the spread of the disease. As hot and humid weather is likely to continue for some time, ginseng farmers must be extra attentive to protect the crops from the disease and manage rain water.