Winter Agricultural Disaster Measures Including Heavy Snow and Cold Waves to be Implemented Until March Next Year

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[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] To minimize damage to farms caused by heavy snow and cold waves, the government will implement winter agricultural disaster countermeasures until March next year.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 14th that it has decided to establish a joint response system with the Rural Development Administration, local governments, and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation to prevent winter disasters.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, this winter, the expansion of a cold continental high-pressure system may cause a sharp drop in temperature, raising concerns about damage from cold waves and heavy snow. Over the past five years, cold waves and heavy snow caused by climate change have damaged 21,951 hectares of crops and 942 hectares of facilities, resulting in restoration costs of 104.4 billion KRW.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will implement disaster prevention, mitigation, and recovery support measures centered on the Agricultural Disaster Countermeasure Situation Room from the 15th of this month until March 15th next year. The Situation Room will manage situations 24 hours a day, maintain a cooperative system with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH), and respond promptly to recovery efforts when damage occurs. When weather warnings related to heavy snow and cold waves are issued, the four teams of the Situation Room will disseminate response guidelines, compile and report damage situations, and hold disaster countermeasure situation management meetings.

In the event of a major disaster, liaison officers will be dispatched to the CDSCH for joint response. To this end, an emergency contact network of 2,000 disaster response personnel has been established, and cooperation will be maintained with the Korea Meteorological Administration, Rural Development Administration, Ministry of National Defense, National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, and Korea Rural Community Corporation. In the event of a natural disaster, the Ministry of National Defense and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation will support emergency recovery personnel and materials, while the Rural Development Administration and local governments (Agricultural Technology Centers) will provide on-site technical support to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. Disaster relief funds and disaster countermeasure management funds will be promptly provided when damage occurs. For insured farms, after assessing the damage, 50% of the estimated insurance payout will be paid in advance.

Meanwhile, from the 16th to the 19th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to conduct a preliminary inspection of disaster prevention status for agricultural facilities such as vinyl greenhouses, livestock barns, and ginseng cultivation facilities, as well as emergency duty systems and collaborative response systems, together with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and other agencies. Local governments and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation will conduct regular inspections of disaster-vulnerable facilities and provide preventive education during the winter countermeasure period.

Kim Jeonghee, Director of the Agricultural Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Even unavoidable disasters such as heavy snow and cold waves can minimize damage if thoroughly prepared in advance." She urged, "Farmers should actively implement preventive measures such as reinforcing supports for vinyl greenhouses and livestock barns and maintaining heating facilities. In case of damage, insured farmers should immediately report to the town or township office and local agricultural cooperative, and uninsured farmers should report to the town or township office."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.