Heavy Rainfall Likely to Drive Up Agricultural Prices... Agricultural Ministry Aims to "Stabilize Supply and Offer Discounts"

Published Jul 21, 2025

Tridge summary

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Yun-gu = Following the heavy rainfall since the 16th, crop submersion damage has occurred, raising concerns about rising food prices.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 21st that the supply of watermelons, melons, and green onions is expected to decrease for the time being, while minimizing supply instability.

The ministry plans to support discounts on items with rising prices to alleviate consumer burden.

While rice, the most severely damaged crop, is expected to have no significant growth disruption once water recedes, some field crops are forecast to see reduced supply.

Watermelons and melons are expected to maintain higher prices compared to last year or the average, due to flood damage in Buyeo (watermelons) and Damyang·Gokseong (melons) areas, coupled with peak seasonal demand.

For strawberries damaged during seedling cultivation, the ministry plans to prepare support measures to secure seedlings from undamaged regions in preparation for September transplanting.

The ministry has instructed swift restoration and pest control of flooded greenhouses through local governments, agricultural cooperatives, and self-help organizations.

Green onions, primarily grown in Yesan and Asan in South Chungcheong Province, can be harvested once floodwaters recede, but supply is expected to decrease due to poor working conditions.

However, green onions for kimchi are sown in August, so they are not expected to significantly impact kimchi season supply. Currently, flood-damaged areas plan to consult with local governments and agricultural cooperatives on replanting if necessary.

Crops like cucumbers, zucchini, green chili peppers, and tomatoes, which are predominantly greenhouse-cultivated, have not been damaged in Gangwon Province, the main production area for August shipments, so the ministry expects the heavy rainfall's impact on supply to be limited.

For summer cabbage and radish, mainly produced in Pyeongchang, Gangneung, and Taebaek in Gangwon Province, while direct damage has not occurred, the ministry anticipates potential seedling loss or pest spread if rainfall continues long-term, and plans to supply 3 million backup seedlings along with pest control agents and nutrients.

Original content

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Yun-gu = Following the heavy rainfall since the 16th, crop submersion damage has occurred, raising concerns about food prices. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs predicted on the 21st that the supply of watermelons, melons, and green onions will decrease for the time being, while pledging to minimize supply instability. The agricultural ministry plans to support discounts on price-increased items to alleviate consumer burden. While rice crops are expected to face no significant growth disruption once water recedes, some field crops are forecast to see reduced supply. Watermelons and melons are expected to maintain prices higher than last year or the average due to submersion damage in Buyeo (watermelons) and Damyang·Gokseong (melons) areas, coinciding with peak seasonal demand. For strawberries damaged during seedling cultivation, the ministry plans to prepare support measures to secure seedlings from undamaged regions in ...
Source: Yna

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