Cheongyang County in South Korea's Chungcheongnam-do has completed preparations to maintain its reputation as the largest producer of cheongyang reed with a recent training session for local farmers.
Cheongyang County, located in South Korea's Chungcheongnam-do, is reinforcing its position as the national leader in the production of cheongyang reed, a medicinal herb, by conducting a 'cheongyang reed cultivation training' session attended by over 40 members of the local research society. This initiative comes in light of recent climate variations which have made breeding this crop more challenging. According to agricultural experts, adapting to new climatic conditions is crucial for sustaining both quality and yield, which involves adjusting seeding times and managing soil nutrients judiciously throughout the growing season.
Experts from the Chungnam Agricultural Technology Institute have noted that the planting schedule for cheongyang reed has shifted earlier from May to mid-April due to climate warming. This change is accompanied by new practices such as applying secondary fertilizers in June and selectively harvesting flowering stems in July to promote bulb growth for medicinal use. Furthermore, effective water management is emphasized, especially given the heavy clay soils of Cheongyang, to prevent over-saturation that could hinder crop health.
As a high-value crop increasingly recognized for its health benefits, cheongyang reed has garnered attention as an ingredient in health supplements. The head of the local research society highlighted the importance of disseminating standard cultivation techniques based on real-world experiences in order to enhance farmers' incomes and further solidify Cheongyang's production foundation. Recent statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs indicate that Cheongyang's cultivation area is 25 hectares, yielding 61 tons and securing the top spot in the national production of this beneficial crop.
