"Don't Burn It, Shred It"...Damyang County Operates Agricultural Byproducts Shredding Team

Preventing Wildfires and Reducing Fine Dust
Priority Support for Vulnerable Farms

Damyang County, South Jeolla Province is operating a Shredding Support Team to prevent the illegal burning of agricultural residues, considered a major cause of wildfires and fine dust. Provided by Damyang County, South Jeolla Province.

Damyang County in South Jeolla Province has fully launched a "Shredding Support Team" to prevent the illegal burning of agricultural byproducts, which are cited as major causes of wildfires and fine dust.

According to Damyang County on February 24, the county began operating a Shredding Support Team for agricultural byproducts that directly visits farming sites on February 9, and has so far finished processing byproducts over an area of 16 hectares.

Until now, farms have routinely burned leftover byproducts after harvest as a matter of practice, but this has caused air pollution and carried a high risk of spreading into large wildfires. In response, the county is using the Shredding Support Team to finely shred the collected byproducts and spread them back onto the farmland, thereby not only preventing wildfires but also improving soil quality through resource recycling.

This year, Damyang County has generously allocated a budget of 130 million won, an increase of 30 million won from last year, and set a target of shredding byproducts over a total area of 90 hectares. Farmers who wish to receive support can apply through the industrial teams at their respective eup and myeon offices.

In particular, the county has designated adjacent land within 100 meters of forests, elderly farmers, and vulnerable farms as its top support priorities. Other applicant farms will also receive customized assistance with shredding work, with schedules coordinated sequentially.

Separately, the Agricultural Machinery Rental Office of the Damyang County Agricultural Technology Center is helping to ease farmers' financial burden by lending branch shredders free of charge during the spring wildfire prevention period.

An official from Damyang County said, "Shredding agricultural byproducts is the most effective way to simultaneously prevent wildfires and protect the environment," adding, "We will continue to pursue proactive, field-oriented administration to build a safe Damyang free from wildfires."