The Rural Development Administration (RDA), led by Director Lee Seung-don, has provided guidelines for post-harvest management to ensure the quality and safety of medicinal crops and maintain their pharmacological properties. Since the pharmacological properties of medicinal crops change immediately after harvest, it is recommended to wash, dry, and sort them as soon as possible.
For washing, remove foreign substances with clean water, but control the washing time to prevent water-soluble pharmacological properties from dissolving in the water. After washing, dry the crops thoroughly to prevent microbial growth in humid environments. Drying is a crucial process for determining the quality of medicinal herbs. When naturally drying, ensure proper air flow and monitor for any deterioration. When using a dryer, maintain the appropriate temperature for each crop.
For storage, use clean and safe packaging materials and include desiccants to prevent moisture and spoilage. If the humidity inside the storage is high, it can promote microbial activity leading to decay, so ventilate frequently. For long-term storage, change the position of the medicinal materials periodically and keep them at a distance from walls and floors to prevent moisture damage and condensation.
Ma Kyung-ho, head of the Special Crop Breeding Division at the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, emphasized the importance of systematic quality management throughout the entire process from variety selection to storage for the stable industrialization of medicinal crops. He stated that adhering to standard management techniques (GAP, GACP) and utilizing Medicinal Crop Distribution Centers (APC) would enable reliable raw material supply for both industries and consumers.