Naju City Operates 'Agricultural Residue Crushing Support Team' for Wildfire Prevention

Naju City in Jeollanam-do supports the shredding of agricultural by-products to prevent wildfires and fires caused by indiscriminate illegal burning of farming residues.

Naju City (Mayor Yoon Byung-tae) announced on the 12th that it will operate the Agricultural By-product Shredding Support Team for the first time this year to ensure the safe disposal of agricultural by-products ahead of the full-scale farming season.

Naju City Agricultural Byproduct Crushing Support Project Launch Ceremony.
Photo by Naju City

Various agricultural by-products generated after the harvest of crops have traditionally been disposed of by burning rather than shredding.

However, careless handling by farmers and unpredictable weather conditions can cause flames to spread to nearby mountains, fields, or residential areas, leading to forest damage, property loss, and casualties, making safe disposal crucial.

Although shredding equipment can safely process agricultural by-products, it is difficult to obtain and many do not know how to use it, so burning still continues.

Accordingly, Naju City plans to dispatch the support team to agricultural households and villages that apply, prioritizing areas adjacent to forests and regions where elderly or vulnerable farmers reside, to assist with agricultural by-product disposal.

The agricultural by-product shredding support will be operated year-round, with a focus on March to April in the first half and November to December in the second half of the year.

Farmers wishing to participate should collect agricultural by-products and remove shredding inhibitors such as vinyl and twine in advance, then apply at the Eup, Myeon, or Dong administrative welfare center at least one week before the shredding date.

Applications for shredding support in the first half of the year will be accepted until May 5, and for the second half from October 1 to December 10.

However, orchards and greenhouse crops affected by contagious diseases such as anthracnose and fire blight are excluded from shredding support.

Jo Seong-eun, director of the Naju Agricultural Technology Center, said, “We hope that operating the Agricultural By-product Shredding Support Team will not only prevent wildfires and fires but also provide practical help to farmers struggling with agricultural by-product disposal.”

Naju = Kim Yuk-bong, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr

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