Pyongyang, August 9 (KCNA) -- An organic farming method based on mud snails has been widely introduced in the DPRK.

The method makes it possible to manure and tend rice fields with ease and produce rice not contaminated by agrochemicals.

According to data available at the Ministry of Agriculture, the method was applied to thousands of hectares in the country last year, eight times higher than the previous year. This year it has been applied to tens of thousands of hectares, four times higher than last year.

North Phyongan Province is taking the lead in introducing this farming method.

Farms in Yomju County have sharply increased the number of mud snails after building many breeding grounds.

The Ryongbuk Co-op Farm manures most of its rice fields with use of mud snails. The county has accepted mud snails in 78 percent of its rice fields.

Co-op farms in Ryongchon, Unjon and Tongrim counties have also benefited from this organic farming method.

Many farms in Pyongyang City and North and South Hwanghae provinces economize on labor and agricultural chemicals with the help of mud snails.