(Iksan=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Jin-bang = Jeonbuk Iksan City announced on the 25th that it received the top institutional award at the "2025 Agricultural Disaster Response Best Practices Competition," which evaluates the capacity to respond to agricultural disasters such as meteorological disasters and plant diseases and pests.
The competition, held on the same day in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, was organized by the Rural Development Administration targeting local governments nationwide to enhance disaster response capabilities amid the worsening abnormal climate.
The city was highly evaluated for its multifaceted response, including the establishment of a preemptive disaster prevention system, the reinforcement of customized inspections and on-site guidance according to the season, and collaboration with related agencies.
In particular, the "On-site Farming Technical Support Team" operated this year received a great response by directly visiting over 120 farms facing difficulties due to high temperatures and concentrated heavy rains, listening to their concerns, and supporting problem-solving.
The city also carried out various preventive activities, including 127 cases of agricultural meteorological disaster and plant disease and pest prevention publicity, 645 ha of fruit tree bacterial wilt and sudden pest inspections, and two instances of cooperative pest control.
Ryu Suk-hee, Director of the Agricultural Technology Center, said, "Given that agricultural disasters are becoming constant due to climate change, preemptive response and scientific inspections are most important," and added, "Based on this award, we will further strengthen the field-centered technology dissemination and disaster response system to reduce damage to farms."