Naju City Accelerates Support for "Fine Mist Sprinkler" Systems to Counter Abnormal Weather

Naju City Launches Fine Mist Sprinkler Project
Reducing Installation Costs and Boosting Farming Stability
Supporting Farmers Against Cold Snaps and Heat Waves

Naju City held a briefing session on the fine mist sprinkler support project to prepare for cold weather and heat waves. Photo by Naju City

Naju City in South Jeolla Province is set to fully implement its "Fine Mist Sprinkler Support Project," which aims to minimize crop damage caused by recent abnormal weather patterns due to climate change by reducing installation costs while maximizing effectiveness.

On August 13, Naju City announced that it had launched the project in earnest by holding a briefing session on the "Fine Mist Sprinkler Support Project for Cold Weather and Heat Wave Preparedness" to reduce damage caused by cold snaps and heat waves resulting from climate change.

In recent years, frequent cold spells during the spring flowering period and prolonged heat waves in summer have led to a decline in both the yield and quality of fruit crops.

Low temperatures during the flowering period cause poor pollination and fruit drop, while excessive sunlight and high temperatures in summer result in sunburn damage to fruits, significantly impacting farmers' incomes.

The city plans to enhance farming stability by distributing fine mist sprinklers, which are easy to install, highly cost-effective, and have proven efficacy in preventing crop damage.

This device sprays fine water particles onto crops. During cold spells, it forms an ice layer on the surface of flowers and fruits to prevent frost damage, while in heat waves, the evaporation process lowers the surface temperature of the crops, preventing quality deterioration.

In particular, the system requires only the addition of spray nozzles and extra hoses to existing irrigation facilities, eliminating the need for separate motors or wells. This greatly reduces installation costs and makes maintenance and management easy.

This year, the project will provide support for a total of 100 hectares as a pilot, with an installation cost of approximately 8 million won per hectare.

The city plans to gradually expand the project based on its performance and future demand.

The project will be carried out in cooperation between Naju City and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup), covering all stages from promotion and application to material supply, installation, and post-management.

The briefing session held on August 12 was attended by pear farmers and Nonghyup officials, who received information on the project overview, installation benefits, support criteria and procedures, and implementation schedule. A Q&A session was also held to improve understanding and encourage participation.

Yoon Byungtae, Mayor of Naju City, stated, "Ensuring stable cultivation has become a critical challenge in the agricultural sector due to the increasing frequency of abnormal weather events. The Fine Mist Sprinkler Support Project will strengthen farmers' ability to respond to weather-related disasters and firmly support the production of high-quality Naju pears."

He added, "I hope that farmers will fully understand the purpose and benefits of the project and participate actively."