Geothermal Farming

Описание: [Anchor Lead]

Korea has developed a new mango farming technique that makes use of geothermal heat to cut back on production costs and boost product quality. The new technology is likely to make the cultivation of mangos and other subtropical fruits easier in Korea.

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Mangos, the popular tropical fruit, ripen lusciously in a greenhouse. This farmer is harvesting about three weeks earlier than at other mango farms. The early harvest is made possible by geothermal heat and underground air, which maintain an average temperature of 18 degrees.

[Soundbite] Heo Yeong-gil(Seogwipo Agricultural Technology Center) : "Geothermal heat enables cooling and heating. Cooling in summer expedites flower bud differentiation so that farmers can adjust their crop shipping dates."

The Rural Development Administration and the Jeju Agricultural Research and Extension Services have jointly developed this technology, which enables steady cooling and heating and 70% lower production costs. The fruit quality has also improved since fresh underground air is supplied around the clock.

[Soundbite] Kim In-gyeong(Mango Farmer) : "The color looks better than before and the sweetness has increased by 2 degrees Brix."

An income of more than 130,000 U.S. dolars is expected this year from a 4,000-square-meter mango greenhouse operated with the new technology. That's a 20% increase from last year. Carbon emissions has also been reduced.

[Soundbite] Chung Hwang-keun(Administrator, RDA) : "Not using fossil fuel limits the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. So it is environment-friendly and poses absolutely no threat to the environment."

Korea may be capable of cultivating more diverse subtropical crops with this new technology that boosts farm revenues and protects the environment.