Bad weather and the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) increase agricultural and livestock prices in South Korea

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Go Eun-ji = The price of major agricultural and livestock products has risen significantly as the crop is sluggish due to bad weather and the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) continued. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the National Statistical Office on the 2nd, consumer prices for agricultural products rose 19.2% last month from a year ago. In particular, the pot price soared 305.8%, showing the highest rate of increase in 27 years since 821.4% in April 1994. Livestock products increased by an average of 10.2%, with eggs (39.6%), domestic beef (11.5%), and pork (7.2%) showing a high rise. However, as the weather conditions improve in spring, crop conditions are restored, and winter cropping, which suffered from cold waves, is converted to spring cropping. By item, the production of Korean leeks is expected to be only 94,000 tons this year, which is 14.5% less than last year due to cold waves and ...