Concerns Over Water Shortage During Farming Season... Emergency Support of 6 Billion Won for Drought Countermeasures Budget

Secured Water Supply for 133 Beneficiary Farmlands and Reservoirs of Seomjingang Dam
Additional Support for Well Development and Pumping Facility Installation

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will urgently provide 6 billion KRW in budget support to local governments for the expansion of water supply facilities.

The ministry announced on the 2nd that it will support budgets for well development and installation of pumping facilities in areas with insufficient water supply capacity ahead of the full-scale farming season in May and June.

According to the ministry, the nationwide average rainfall over the past two months was 44mm, only half of the normal level (88mm). The nationwide reservoir water storage rate for agricultural use is 73%, similar to the normal rate (77%), but the rates in Jeonbuk (60%) and Jeonnam (55.5%) are low, raising concerns about water shortages during the farming season if the drought continues.

Farmland cracked wide open by drought (Photo by Asia Economy DB)

Since December last year, the ministry has proactively secured 37 million tons of water by filling rivers, drainage channels, and reservoirs in 33,000 hectares of farmland benefiting from the Seomjingang Dam (Gimje, Buan, Jeongeup) and 133 reservoirs where water shortages during the farming season are a concern.

However, in areas lacking hydraulic facilities such as reservoirs and pumping stations, it is expected to be difficult to secure water if the drought continues. Therefore, an additional 6 billion KRW will be provided to local governments to develop water sources through groundwater wells and pumping facility installations to secure additional water.

Additionally, for Jeonbuk and Jeonnam regions with low reservoir water storage rates, 1.9 billion KRW will be further supported to identify reservoirs suitable for dredging and increase storage capacity.

Lee Jae-cheon, Director of the Agricultural Infrastructure Division at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Concerns about drought during the farming season continue mainly in the southern regions. We will strive to minimize drought damage by proactively securing water and developing water sources."