On May 28, the 2024 Rice Planting Event was held at the College of Agriculture, Life & Environment Sciences of CBNU. The Dept. of Crop Science Science hosts a Rice Planting Event at the end of May every year so that students have the opportunity to commemorate the long tradition of rice planting and gain experience as well as academic knowledge. During the event, which is performed to ensure a good harvest, rice planting is done by hand giving students a hands-on experience.

  After taking a group photo with students who participated in the Rice Planting Event, Prof. Sung Jwa-kyung, the head of the Dept. of Crop Science, commented, “I hope this event will be an opportunity to help students realize their full potential as well as to wish for a good harvest without disaster.” The students immediately walked into the rice paddy after the speech and started planting rice. They planted young rice plants from the ends of the paddy fields, using the guidelines for rice planting to transplant at regular intervals. The planting lasted about 30 to 40 minutes, and then, they finished the Rice Planting Event by eating snacks (including watermelons, rice cake, etc.) together.

  Park Sin-yeong (Dept. of Crop Science, 24) who participated in the event said, “I was able to experience things that I could not do in my daily life and gain a better understanding about Agriculture which is my major. I think this event will help me in the future.”. Also, Lee Seon-a (Dept. of Crop Science, 24) said “I learned patience and cooperation, directly touching the soil with my hands and carefully planting young rice plants one by one. Even though I worked with many students, it was hard work. So, I was able to realize the hard work of our ancestors and the importance of rice.

  Prof. Sung Jwa-kyung, which hosted the Rice Planting Event, introduced the preparatory steps for the event. “First, is to sow rice seed and grow healthy plants. Generally, young rice seedlings, 20~25 days old, is used for planting. Second, the process of preparation of the soil is to spray fertilizer and compost, which supply nutrition to the seedlings, and to flatten the soil after cultivation by plowing.” After the event, the planted rice is managed and cultivated by an affiliated farm of the College of Agriculture, Life & Environment Sciences. When the rice completed its growth in October, it can be harvested and sold. All the profit from the rice is allocated to the affiliated farm’s budget for the next year. The profit is used as a means to research and create an environment for practice, research and learning. Prof. Sung said, he wishes students could experience the rice culture which is forgotten day by day, and realize the importance of rice as a main grain crop, and staple food, in Korea.

  It was impressive to see the members of the College of Agriculture, Life & Environment Sciences planting rice, together. The Rice Planting Event provided a precious chance that help members solidify their relationship and foster cooperation. The event will leave an impression on the community and students, and be an opportunity to awaken the sense of the importance of agriculture. This CBT reporter hopes that such traditional events will continue in the future, and that future generations will not forget the roots and values of our agriculture.