(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Jeon Jae-hoon = The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 12th that it will inspect 20,000 aging greenhouses and livestock farms to prevent damage from winter disasters such as heavy snow and cold waves.
This measure is part of the '2025 Winter Agricultural Disaster Countermeasure' created by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to minimize agricultural damage caused by winter disasters.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, from next month to January of next year, temperatures and precipitation are expected to be similar to the average year, but with the influx of cold air from the north, there is expected to be a high degree of climate variability, including sudden cold waves and heavy snowfall.
In response, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to operate the 'Agricultural Disaster Countermeasure Situation Room' from the 15th of this month until March 15 of next year to prepare for winter disasters in horticulture, livestock, and other sectors.
To prevent damage, the ministry will focus on vulnerable facilities, installing ground support facilities, checking heating equipment, strengthening the internal disaster design standards of horticulture and livestock facilities, and improving standard design drawings.
In addition, the Disaster Countermeasure Situation Room will disseminate weather alerts and disaster prevention tips, and manage disaster situations by collecting and reporting damage and disseminating information when a disaster occurs.
If damage occurs, the ministry will collaborate with local governments and agricultural cooperatives to provide manpower and equipment to demolish damaged facilities, and dispatch on-site technical support teams to guide in preventing secondary damage to crops and livestock.
Furthermore, to help affected farmers quickly return to normal, the ministry plans to promptly provide disaster relief funds and disaster insurance payments necessary for reseeding crops and housing livestock.
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-reung urged farmers to actively implement preventive measures such as reinforcing facility supports and removing shading nets and protective covers to prevent winter disasters.