Rice Planthopper Damage on 22,381ha... Government Provides Disaster Relief Funds and Financial Support

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 17th that it will hold an Agricultural Disaster Countermeasure Committee meeting to provide disaster relief funds and financial support for recovery from brown planthopper damage caused by abnormal high temperatures.

An official from the Ministry explained, "This summer (July to September), the average temperature during the brown planthopper growth period was 26.7℃, which is 2.8℃ higher than the normal average of 23.9℃. This caused the brown planthopper life cycle (egg to adult) to shorten and the population to increase rapidly. As the abnormal high temperatures continued until September, the brown planthopper became highly active, resulting in large-scale damage."

The Ministry, together with local governments, conducted damage report collection and field investigations from the 8th to the 21st of last month. As a result, a total area of 22,381 hectares was surveyed. The area eligible for national treasury support was calculated at 17,732 hectares. By local government, Jeonnam had 9,261 hectares, Jeonbuk 3,098 hectares, Chungnam 2,979 hectares, and Gyeongnam 1,551 hectares, in descending order. The damage area eligible for support in local governments with a disaster index below 300 was surveyed at 4,649 hectares.

Accordingly, the government reviewed and approved the recovery plan at the Agricultural Disaster Countermeasure Committee meeting on the 14th. To support recovery from brown planthopper damage, disaster relief funds totaling 18.3 billion KRW will be provided to 17,632 affected farming households for pesticide costs, seedling replacement costs, and living expenses. Additionally, depending on the damage rate, repayment deferrals and interest reductions on agricultural policy funds will be applied (1 year for 30%-49% damage, 2 years for 50% or more), and if additional funds are needed for farm management, disaster countermeasure management funds will be provided at an interest rate of 1.8%.

Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, "To prevent large-scale pest and disease damage like this brown planthopper incident from recurring, we plan to cooperate with the Rural Development Administration and local governments to strengthen monitoring and implement thorough control measures."