County trains certified operators ahead of joint aerial spraying season
Goseong-gun in Gangwon Province announced Tuesday it will conduct drone-based aerial spraying to reduce crop damage from rice pests and diseases and establish a more systematic joint pest control program.
To prepare for the upcoming spraying season, the county held a training session Monday for certified drone operators involved in the joint rice pest control program, aiming to build a safe and efficient aerial spraying system before full-scale operations begin.
About 30 operators — designated by township and village — attended the session, updating their knowledge of the latest technology trends and developing strategies tailored to the soil conditions of Goseong-gun's farmland.
The training focused on the key characteristics of pest outbreaks by season, effective control methods and common complaints that arise in the field.
Participants also received guidance on pesticide regulations, laws governing aerial spraying and safety management protocols, with an emphasis on practical information they can apply immediately on the job.
The session also set aside time for operators to share difficulties encountered during last year's spraying operations and discuss improvements, allowing participants to exchange firsthand experience and information.
Goseong-gun is investing a total of 1.1 billion won (about $711,000) this year to support two rounds of pesticide supply and two rounds of spraying costs for joint rice pest control across the entire county. The county said the program is designed to ease the financial burden on farming households and maintain a stable rice production base.
Do Min-yeon, director of the Goseong-gun Agricultural Technology Center, said she hopes the training will give drone operators practical help on the front lines of joint rice pest control. "We will continue to expand education and support that reflects feedback from the field," she said.
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