-The provincial office makes effort to expand the areas growing high-quality varieties.- 

Encouraging farmers to use less chemical fertilizers and insecticides to make Gyeonggi rice varieties differentiated from those of other provinces 

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office has made positive efforts to enhance the quality of rice produced in the province by increasing the area to 110,000 ha, i.e. 97% of the entire 114,000 ha, which grows high-quality varieties, such as Chucheong and Goshihikari, which excel others in terms of taste, health-related factors and environmental friendliness. The office also makes efforts to help domestically grown rice varieties maintain their competitiveness in connection with the forthcoming door-opening in the rice market. 

On August 19, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office reported that more farmers are growing the high-end varieties recommended by the office and the total amount of chemical fertilizers and insecticides used by rice growing farmers in 2004 was decreased by 12.8% and 18.6% year on year, respectively, thus helping enhance the product quality. It also said that as a result of such efforts the rice produced in the province is traded at prices 20,000～25,000 won higher per 80kg-bag than those produced in other provinces. 

Another good news for rice growing farmers in the province is that the expected per 10a (= 300 pyeong) amount of harvest of rice paddies would stand at 479 kg this year, a 6.7% increase from 449kg in 2003, according to the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service. Thus, the total quantity of rice produced in the province this year is expected to come to 531,000 tons, compared to 514,000 tons in 2003. 

The increase in the rice production in a unit area of 10a is attributable to the favorable weather condition, such as a high temperature and long duration of sunshine, between early July and early August, when rice grains are formed. Less attacks by concentrated downpour of rain, typhoons and diseases also contributed to the increase in the rice production. The finalized figure for rice production will be available in early November. 

A provincial official said, “We will continue to make efforts to make Gyeonggi rice varieties differentiated from the others in an effort to help rice growing farmers increase their income and maintain their competitiveness in connection with the forthcoming rush of imported rice.