Haenam County Launches Trial Fields for Long-Grain Rice
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
Haenam County (Haenam-gun) in South Jeolla Province is establishing trial cultivation sites for long-grain rice (Indica-type) to diversify from the short, sticky Japonica varieties typically grown in Korea. Partnering with Jeollanam-do, Sejong University, growers’ cooperatives and distributors, a Korean-adapted long-grain variety was developed and planted on reclaimed land, expanding from 20 ha in 2024 to about 100 ha this year and producing roughly 600 tons. The new variety is more resilient to extreme weather (heavy rain, drought), yields more than existing varieties, and has a fluffier texture and milder aroma that suits fried rice, risotto and other Western/Asian fusion dishes. Early consumer tastings at local food fairs received positive feedback, and about 4 tons have already been exported to markets such as the US and Canada. A private milling line dedicated to long-grain rice will open in early 2026, and processed products like ready meals, meal kits and rice noodles are in development with major retailers. Haenam also created a mascot, “Jjangribi” (짱립이), and is running online and offline promotions to raise awareness and boost domestic rice consumption while adapting agriculture to climate change.
