The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 29th that it will provide a budget of 6 billion KRW for the drought-preparedness water development project in areas chronically lacking agricultural water due to insufficient existing hydraulic facilities such as reservoirs and pumping stations.
As of the end of 2022, South Korea has established a foundation to stably supply agricultural water, with the area of paddy fields supplied through hydraulic facilities (irrigation rate) reaching 84.3% of the total paddy field area. However, regions with insufficient hydraulic facilities such as islands and mountainous areas, as well as water supply blind spots like the lower ends of reservoirs, face difficulties even during mild droughts.
To address these water supply blind spots, the Ministry collected reports on water shortage areas and water development plans from 10 cities and provinces, conducted analyses on water demand and supply, and reviewed the appropriateness of the water development plans. As a result, support will be provided to 56 cities and counties for the development of 71 wells and farm ponds, installation of 13 pumping facilities, and dredging, expansion, and construction of 11 retention ponds.
Choi Myung-cheol, Director of Food Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, "The average storage rate of over 1,700 reservoirs nationwide exceeds 90%, so there will be no disruption in water supply for rice planting this year. However, water supply blind spots may experience shortages depending on future rainfall conditions. We will continue to work with local governments to steadily eliminate these water supply blind spots."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
