Cultivation area for major root vegetables such as cabbage and radish is expected to increase

The spring cropping area for major leafy vegetables like cabbage and radish in Korea is projected to increase significantly. The Korea Rural Economic Institute reports a 6.5% increase in spring cabbage's total cropping area compared to last year, and a 12.0% increase in spring radish. The Rural Development Administration has completed facility cultivation for these vegetables and is currently working on field cultivation. The increase in cultivation area is attributed to high prices during seedling periods and increased demand for storage for cabbage, and to price increases in the previous year's harvest period for radish and carrots. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is taking measures to stabilize supply and demand by expanding contract cultivation and purchase reserves of spring cabbage and radish by 45% and 50% respectively, and providing financial support to contract farmers.

It is expected that the spring cropping area of major leafy vegetables such as cabbage and radish will increase across the board. According to the ‘March Leafy Vegetable Observation’ recently released by the Korea Rural Economic Institute, the total cropping area of spring cabbage was found to be 3,623 ha. It increased by 6.5% compared to last year and 4.2% compared to the average year. The field cropping area was 3,280 ha, increasing by 6.2% and 6.4% compared to the previous year and the average year. The facility cropping area (343 ha) increased by 9.7% and 6.4%. The expected increase in spring radish was greater than that of cabbage. The total cropping area of spring radish was 935 ha, increasing by 12.0% compared to the previous year and 8.4% compared to the average year. Spring carrots (1017ha) are expected to increase by 8.2% and 6.6% compared to the previous year and average year, and spring cabbage is expected to increase by 5.6% and 1.6%. According to the Rural ...