All of the rain we’ve been getting recently has damaged the island’s crops. The quality of mandarin oranges and field crops is dropping and pest infestations and plant diseases are spreading. Mike Balfour reports.
[slug]
Aewol-eup, Jeju City

Farmer (박병직) Park Byeong-jik is harvesting his broccoli.
He is not pleased with the results.

There is little quality broccoli to harvest as the repeated rain that began last month has damaged the crop and caused disease.

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Broccoli seriously damaged

He has grown broccoli for about 30 years, but this year is the worst.

One third of the crop was discarded.

INTERVIEW
Park Byeong-jik / Broccoli grower
Prices have plunged and pests are destroying the crop.
<인터뷰 : 박병직/브로콜리 재배농가>
"올해는 농산물 가격도 하락한데다가 농민들 죽상입니다. 병해가 많아서..."

It is the very same for cabbage.

The continued rain has caused black rot and the leaves have turned yellow.


[camera]
Hyeon Gwang-hoon

Downy mildew and black rot have been rapidly spreading since the outbreak of clubroot in October.

There are no clear countermeasures except to spray the crops with pesticides.

INTERVIEW
Kim Hyeon-hwan / Representative of Jeju ARES
The recent frequent rain has caused downy mildew and black rot outbreaks on broccoli and cabbage. When the rain stops, farmers are advised to spray pesticides.
<인터뷰 : 김현환/제주농업기술센터 농촌지도사>
"최근 잦은 비날씨로 양배추와 브로콜리에 노균병과 검은썩은병이 발생하고 있으니
비가 개면 병해충을 방제해주시기 바랍니다."

The damage is getting more serious day by day.

[reporter]
Mike Balfour

The recent rains have broccoli and cabbage farmers bearing the brunt of one of the worst harvests in decades.

Mike Balfour KCTV