South Korea develops digital climate map for farmers

 

 

South Korea has completed the development of a detailed "digital climate map" that aims to help farmers increase production and make correct decisions on planting, the government said Wednesday (May 5).

 

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MFAFF) said the map, developed in cooperation with Kyung Hee University in Seoul, divides the entire country into a grid with sections measuring 30 square meters each.

 

It said each grid section has its own average high and low daily temperature data, rainfall and accumulated radiation, which is the amount of sunshine received by plants.

 

The information gathered by checking weather information collected in the periods from 1971-2000 and 1981-2010 is some of the most detailed in the world.

 

The US has a similar climate map that divides the country into 800 square meter sections, while sections on China's grid are 4km long by 4km wide.

 

Officials said the information posted at the National Center for Agro Meteorology website can help farmers make informed decisions on what kind of vegetables, grains and fruits to plant or replace.

 

Timely and proper selection of crops is vital for a better harvest and higher profits for farmers.

 

The ministry added that the information can be further developed with information on items such as pests, damage caused by cold spells and the quality of crops grown on a particular plot.

 

In the past, local climate maps or hydrologic units covered large areas separated by geographical regions and were usually drawn to give detailed information about heavily populated urban areas, coastal regions and open plains.

 

The ministry said it provided KRW1 billion (US$896,000) in research and development funds for the four-year project.