Geography
Yeongyang is an inland county near the middle of the Nakdong in the north-eastern area of Gyeongsangbuk-do. Near the county are Andong-si Cheongsong Yeongdeok Bonghwa, and Uljin. It is a mountainous region with large and small waters and peaks. Farming field and villages are near Banbyeoncheon(Banbyueon stream) of the Nakdong's upstream.
Social and economic environment
- Administrative District.
- 1 eup, 5 myeons, 114 ris, 484 bans, 275 villages
- The total area is 815.08㎢, or 4.2% of Gyeongbuk
- Household and Population
- Household : 8,495 (Farming household 4,226 49%)
- Population : 19,207 (Farming population 11,272 58%)
- Cultivated Land: 6,585ha (Rice paddy 1,780ha, 4,805ha)
- Cultivated Land per a Farming Household : 1.39ha(rice paddy 0.38ha, field 1.01ha)
Farmers' Income
- Total Farmers' Income : 101.3 billion won(income from farming 100.3 billion won, 99%)
※ the Income from red Pepper 52.6 billion won(52% of the earnings from farming) - Farmers' income per a Farming Household : income per a farming house 23,964,000 won, income from farming 23,721,000 won.
Climate
- Yeongyang features a continental climate in which temperature differences between cold and hot is extreme. It makes summer crops grow well and mountainous areas where it is cool in summer are the perfect condition to grow red peppers.
※ The optimal temperature for growing red peppers : day 25 ~ 30℃, night 15 ~ 20℃ - Total Annual Rainfall and the Number of Frost-free Days in 2007.
By Rail Region Yeongyang-gun Bonghwa-gun Cheongsong-gu Andong-si Uiseong-gun Note Rainfall(mm) 900.9 1,266.5 898.0 1,185.7 1,209.7 in 2007 Frost-free days(day) 169 140 148 281 170 - Yeongyang has less fall and longer frost-free periods than other regions, which make it the optimal land to raise red peppers.
- The temperature difference between day and night during the fruiting season is 11.3℃, which is large, and the rainfall is enough for red pepper farming.
- Compared to other reasons, the temperature difference is large and there is much more sunshine.
Soil Condition
Most of soil for red peppers in Korea is clay loam soil, the soil consists mainly of granite gneiss and aqueous rocks, which is gyeonggi gneiss complex. It is better for raising quality red peppers.
Efforts to Improve the Quality
- We provide organic compost to farming households so that farmers can raise high quality red peppers.
- We also try to restore indigenous varieties such as subicho and chilseongcho so that Yeongyang red peppers can taste better.
- We raise plug seedlings and grafts to fight diseases and insects.
- We harvest, clean, and dry only fully-grown red peppers to provide good red peppers.
- We provide farmers with the best seeds and make contracts with them so that we can provide red peppers steadily.
