Yeongam-gun Holds Fig Cold Damage Countermeasure Council Meeting

This Year, Distribution of Tunnel-Type Nonwoven Fabric for Permanent Annual Damage Prevention

Ministry of Agriculture's Proposal for Fig Disaster Insurance System Improvement

On the 18th, a countermeasure meeting was held at the county office's Disaster Comprehensive Situation Room with about 10 participants including the county, Agricultural Technology Center, Samho Nonghyup, and fig cultivation farmers. (Photo by Yeongam-gun)

[Yeongam＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] On the 23rd, Jeonnam Yeongam-gun announced that on the 18th, a countermeasure council was held at the county office's disaster comprehensive situation room with about 10 participants including the county, Agricultural Technology Center, Samho Nonghyup, and fig cultivation farmers.

The county explained the status of damage from cold waves and low temperatures, progress made so far, and future plans. Following this, Samho Nonghyup explained the status of fig disaster insurance subscriptions, issues, and improvement measures as the meeting proceeded.

At this council, issues such as seedling supply problems, improvements to the fig disaster insurance system, and orchard maintenance costs were discussed.

As a countermeasure for the seedling supply problem, the pot seedling method, which grows seedlings relatively early, was proposed. This method involves planting cuttings in pots inside a greenhouse; although it is vulnerable to external environmental factors, if watering and sunlight are properly managed, the seedlings grow well with a low failure rate.

Pot seedlings are advantageous for farmers because after fig harvest, branches are cut and planted in pots to grow, then directly transplanted to open fields, allowing crops to grow quickly.

In contrast, open-field seedlings require about two years, including one year of growth after planting cuttings before being transplanted to orchards, and are exposed to external environments, making them vulnerable to cold damage and nematodes.

A county official stated, “We plan to review the various opinions raised at this meeting and establish mid- to long-term measures within regulations. First, we will implement a tunnel-type nonwoven fabric support project to prevent cold damage, assess the status of disaster countermeasure management fund loans, and then propose to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs the postponement of loan repayments and improvements to the fig disaster insurance system.”

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