Shinan County in South Jeolla Province has requested emergency government funding as a severe drought worsens due to significantly reduced rainfall and declining water levels in agricultural reservoirs. The county is focusing its administrative efforts on securing agricultural water for the winter season in anticipation of potential water shortages leading into next spring's farming season.
On October 15, Shinan County officials presented the drought situation in island regions and called for urgent financial support from the government during the 16th regular meeting of the National Association of Rural County Mayors held at the Taekwondowon in Muju, North Jeolla Province.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryeong and representatives from 76 counties nationwide, who discussed rural issues and government support measures.
The request for government assistance stems from a sharp decline in rainfall and a drop in the average water level of agricultural reservoirs. According to the county, this year's average rainfall is 702 mm, which is only 56.48% of last year's 1,243 mm, representing a decrease of 541 mm.
The average water level in agricultural reservoirs has also fallen from 88.1% last year to 37.25% this year, a drop of 50.85 percentage points. Concerns are growing that without sufficient rainfall before next year's farming season, securing agricultural water will become increasingly difficult.
Given its geographical characteristics, with a wide distribution of islands, Shinan County considers stable agricultural water supply a critical issue.
According to county data, of the total population of 42,384, 25,878 are engaged in agriculture, accounting for 61%. The region also ranks first in the country for organic certification area and second for eco-friendly certification area, highlighting the significant role of agriculture in the local economy.
In response, the county is allocating a total of 3.2 billion won in emergency funding, including 2.3 billion won from its reserves, to minimize drought damage.
However, the county believes that relying solely on local finances will not be sufficient for stable agricultural water supply if the lack of rainfall continues long-term, prompting the request for government-level support.
The county views the winter fallow period, when crop cultivation is relatively low, as a crucial time to prevent agricultural damage next year and plans to implement urgent drought measures.
To this end, the county intends to proactively pursue agricultural water supply projects and strengthen discussions with relevant ministries to secure necessary funding from the government.
Kim Tae-sung, the mayor of Shinan County, stated, "Agriculture is the fundamental foundation supporting the local economy and the lifeline for residents. We will concentrate all administrative efforts on securing government funding through proactive drought measures this winter, ensuring farmers can confidently approach next year's farming season."
Meanwhile, Shinan County plans to pursue follow-up discussions to ensure that the drought response projects proposed at the national rural county mayors' meeting lead to tangible government support. Given that securing agricultural water this winter could significantly impact next spring's farming conditions, the county aims to prioritize government funding and urgent drought measures.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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