Government to Make All-Out Efforts for Crop Damage Restoration... Swift Payment of Insurance and Restoration Funds Planned

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs holds emergency meeting
to assess heavy rain response in the agricultural sector

The government has decided to make every effort to restore crop damage caused by the torrential rains that hit the central and southern regions starting on the 16th. The plan is to swiftly provide insurance payouts and restoration funds to affected farmers.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it held an emergency meeting on the 18th to urgently inspect the response situation to heavy rain in the agricultural sector.

Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, held an emergency meeting on the 18th to urgently inspect the response situation to heavy rain in the agricultural sector, checking the damage status and discussing restoration measures. (Photo by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, from the 16th to 9 p.m. on the 17th of this month, the Chungcheong region received 437.6 mm of rainfall in Hongseong, 419.9 mm in Seosan, 388 mm in Sejong, and 378 mm in Dangjin. In the Jeolla region, record-breaking rainfall was also observed, with 420.8 mm in Gwangju, 391.5 mm in Naju, and 383.5 mm in Damyang. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs analyzed that as strong cold air in the upper atmosphere moved southward, a cold-warm boundary formed mainly in the central region, and a stationary mid-scale low pressure system caused heavy rain to be concentrated in narrow areas. As a result, extremely heavy rainfall occurred, with 114.9 mm per hour in Seosan, 98.2 mm in Hongseong, 98.0 mm in Seocheon, and 89.5 mm in Taean, which exacerbated flooding damage.

As of the initial survey by local governments on the 17th, the agricultural sector suffered flooding of 13,033 hectares of crops, including rice, soybeans, green onions, and watermelons. Livestock damage was provisionally tallied at 56 cattle, 200 pigs, and 600,000 chickens. By region, the largest damage occurred in Chungnam, where the rain was most concentrated, followed by Gyeongnam.

For farmland affected by flooding or waterlogging, it is necessary to promptly drain water and remove sediment, and after the rain stops, to prevent further damage by spraying pesticides and nutrients to prevent pests and diseases, as well as ensuring adequate ventilation and manure removal in livestock barns. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to have senior officials conduct on-site inspections in affected areas and immediately address any shortcomings.

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Miryung stated, "We will make every effort to minimize additional damage by cooperating with related organizations such as the Rural Development Administration, the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, and local governments." She added, "In areas where crop flooding and other damage have occurred, we will carry out emergency restoration, including drainage measures and on-site technical guidance for vegetables and fruit trees. We also plan to provide insurance payouts and restoration funds promptly through rapid loss assessment and damage investigation."