Following a heat wave and drought in July and August, over 2,000 hectares of crops in the Gwangju region of Jeollanam-do have been damaged, prompting the allocation of 6.3 billion won in recovery funds for affected farms.
The Gwangju Integrated Special City announced that it will distribute a total of 6.314 billion won in recovery funds to 2,046 farms impacted by the heat and drought throughout September.
According to the city’s assessment, the total area of crop damage amounts to 2,118 hectares. Leeks were the most affected, with 1,697 hectares, followed by ginseng at 200 hectares, sweet persimmons at 156 hectares, and rice at 65 hectares (including others).
Regionally, Sinan reported the largest damage area at 1,357 hectares, followed by Yeonggwang at 385 hectares, Yeongam at 87 hectares, and Jindo at 61 hectares.
This recovery fund is linked to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' recovery plan. The ministry held a disaster recovery committee meeting on September 18 to finalize the recovery funds for farms affected by the summer's heat and drought.
In Gwangju, 1,946 farms and 2,067 hectares are eligible for national funding. Additionally, the Integrated Special City will provide recovery support for 80 farms and 51 hectares in Gokseong and Boseong, which were excluded from national funding, using its own resources.
The total recovery fund of 6.314 billion won consists of 4.26 billion won from national funds, 994 million won from special city funds, 1.034 billion won from municipal funds, 16 million won in loans, and 10 million won in self-funding.
Support items include compensation for pesticide costs and leek replanting. The compensation for pesticides is set at 4 million won per hectare for ginseng, 3 million won for sweet persimmons, 2.5 million won for leeks, and 1 million won for rice, while replanting costs for leeks are 2.5 million won and for rice, 2 million won.
In addition to cash recovery funds, efforts will be made to alleviate the financial burden on affected farms.
The postponement of agricultural policy loan repayments and interest reductions will be provided to 15 farms, totaling 895 million won, while 78 farms will receive 1.434 billion won in disaster management funds. The government’s agricultural disaster recovery system will also link direct recovery funds with loan repayment postponements, interest reductions, and disaster management funds for affected farms.
Jeong Won-jin, head of the Gwangju Integrated Special City’s Food and Horticulture Division, stated, “As the prolonged heat wave and drought have deepened the farmers' concerns, we will ensure that recovery funds are distributed without delay in September. We will do our utmost to support affected farms in resuming agricultural activities and achieving management stability.”
Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, nationwide crop damage from the summer heat wave and drought affected 5,887.8 hectares of crops, including ginseng, sweet persimmons, pears, and leeks, resulting in leaf wilting and fruit sunburn. The government has confirmed disaster recovery funds totaling 30.493 billion won for 14,689 farms across the country, following damage assessments by local governments and the disaster recovery committee's approval.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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