President of Nong-eochon Gong's First New Year Move is 'Drought Site'... Securing Water Supply

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] Lee Byung-ho, President of Korea Rural Community Corporation, inspected the water supply site at Najuho Reservoir in Naju-si, Jeollanam-do on the 5th and urged proactive measures against the lack of rainfall.

At the site, President Lee said, "As the southern region's meteorological drought, which began in January last year, continued throughout the year, there are concerns about the possibility of drought becoming a regular occurrence this year as well. Please do your best to actively stockpile water."

The current storage rate of Najuho Reservoir, the largest agricultural reservoir in Jeollanam-do (with a storage capacity of 106 million tons), is only 34.8%.

As of that day, the nationwide average storage rate of reservoirs managed by the corporation was 68%, which is 95% of the normal level, while Jeollanam-do's average storage rate was 47%, lower than usual.

Accordingly, since December last year, the corporation has been implementing proactive water supply measures focusing on facilities with low storage rates. Water is being stocked according to field conditions through pumping and storing water by drawing water from nearby rivers or drainage channels into reservoirs, and direct supply by installing simple pumping facilities to supply water to water channels.

A Korea Rural Community Corporation official stated, "Through storage rate forecast analysis, we have established a water supply plan of 19 million tons for 133 facilities requiring water supply mainly in the southern region, and we are making efforts to reduce damage during the farming season."