Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok: "Please Make Every Effort to Prevent Damage Due to Agricultural Water Shortage"

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, urged, "Please make every effort to respond to prevent crop damage caused by a shortage of agricultural water."

According to Jeonnam Province on the 3rd, Governor Kim visited Maesan Reservoir in Singwang-myeon, Hampyeong on the same day.

The current average storage rate of agricultural reservoirs in Jeonnam is 59.5%, which is similar to the normal year average (59.9%).

The rice planting rate in Jeonnam is about 58%, and agricultural water for paddy fields under irrigation safety is being supplied normally. However, the accumulated rainfall this year due to recent abnormal climate is 199mm, which is only 53% of the normal year average (376mm).

Accordingly, since March, the province has been operating an agricultural water drought countermeasure situation room together with city and county offices and the Korea Rural Community Corporation to proactively respond to drought during the farming season and ensure stable supply of agricultural water.

The current reservoir storage volume of 443 million tons in the province is expected to have no major problems supplying water for paddy fields (130,000 hectares) for rice planting until the end of this month.

However, if the rain continues to not fall, drought damage is expected to occur mainly in the terminal parts of water channels, rainfed paddy fields, and island areas.

Jeonnam Province is proactively responding to drought by supporting 2.3 billion KRW in national and provincial funds last month to 16 cities and counties including Yeosu-si, where agricultural water is insufficient, promoting well development, installation of pumping stations, and dredging of reservoirs and drainage channels.

In addition, reservoirs with storage rates below 50% are being filled by pumping out water from downstream agricultural lands, and emergency inspections of the water supply system are being conducted to prevent water loss, focusing all efforts to avoid inconvenience to residents due to agricultural water shortages.

Along with this, if no rainfall continues, an emergency agricultural water securing plan will be implemented to support 330 million KRW in national and provincial funds for dredging retention ponds (dumbung), renting pumps and water trucks for rainfed paddy fields and other farmlands expected to face water shortages.

Governor Kim said, "We will focus the provincial government’s capabilities on preparing customized agricultural water securing measures suitable for local conditions to prevent damage to crops that residents have worked hard to grow," and added, "City and county offices and the Korea Rural Community Corporation should actively cooperate in supporting farmers."

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