The government is rolling out 80 billion won ($56.5 million) in support measures as damage from heatwaves, drought and high sea-water temperatures spreads across the farming, livestock and fisheries sectors. The package allocates 30 billion won for seafood discounts and 33.2 billion won in disaster relief for affected fishing households, while expanding support for high-water-temperature response equipment to 9.4 billion won. An additional 2.2 billion won will go toward discounted pesticides and nutrients for crops, and 4.1 billion won toward heatwave relief for livestock farms. Flounder, rockfish and abalone will be discounted by up to 50 percent, and affected fishing households will receive an initial recovery payment before Chuseok.
The measures were announced Thursday at a joint emergency economic headquarters and economic ministers' meeting held at Government Complex Seoul, under a plan titled "Measures to Stabilize Prices and Supply of Agricultural, Livestock and Fishery Products in Response to Heatwaves, Drought and Other Conditions." The government said it is strengthening sector-by-sector support to prevent heatwave, drought and high-water-temperature damage from spilling over into supply instability.
A simple sum of the major support figures listed in the plan comes to 79.26 billion won. However, that total includes a mix of previously budgeted funds, amounts expanded this year and newly secured national funds.
The following table summarizes the government's major support allocations for heatwave, drought and high-water-temperature response, as provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
Sector | Support content | Amount Crops | Discounted supply of pesticides and nutrients | 2.2 billion won Crops | Supply of shade-coating agents | 360 million won Livestock | Additional national funds for heatwave response | 4.1 billion won Fisheries | Support for high-water-temperature response equipment | 9.4 billion won Fisheries | Discount support for flounder, rockfish, abalone, etc. | 30 billion won Fisheries | Disaster relief for affected fishing households | 33.2 billion won Total | | 79.26 billion won
In the crop sector, 2.2 billion won will support discounted supplies of pesticides and nutrients to prevent growth setbacks and quality deterioration caused by the heatwave — 400 million won for cabbage and radish, 1.4 billion won for fruit trees and 400 million won for fruit vegetables. An additional 360 million won will fund the supply of shade-coating agents.
The government will also support the installation of disaster-prevention facilities — including fine-spray systems and sunshade nets — at 3,786 farms this year. If needed, it will work with local governments, the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and regional production councils to deploy water-supply vehicles and shared water bags for emergency irrigation.
In the livestock sector, the government has secured an additional 4.1 billion won in national funds for heatwave response. High-temperature stress relievers, heat-blocking coating agents and cooling equipment will be distributed through local governments, agricultural cooperatives and self-help fund organizations. As of now, 91.4 percent of the planned support has been delivered.
The fisheries sector accounts for the largest share of support. Funding for high-water-temperature response equipment — including heat pumps, liquid oxygen supply systems and shade nets — has been expanded from 5.8 billion won last year to 9.4 billion won this year.
A total of 30 billion won will go toward seafood discount support. Discounts of up to 50 percent will be offered on flounder, rockfish, abalone and other species through a special high-water-temperature sale under the "Korea Fisheries Grand Sale." The event has also been extended by four weeks, running through Aug. 23. The measure aims to boost consumption of farmed fish vulnerable to high water temperatures and encourage early harvesting.
Early harvests through the fifth week of last month totaled 23,149 tons, up 12.3 percent from the same period last year. Emergency releases to reduce stocking density at fish farms have also been carried out in parallel — 320,000 rockfish had been released into the wild as of Monday.
The disaster relief budget for fishing households affected by high water temperatures has been set at 33.2 billion won this year, a 153 percent increase from last year. The government plans to conduct damage assessments and disburse initial recovery payments before Chuseok. Fishing households enrolled in aquaculture disaster insurance whose damage cause has been confirmed will receive 50 percent of the estimated insurance payout within 30 days.
The scope of recovery support is also being expanded. The eligibility standard will shift from a "residence" unit to a "livelihood" unit, meaning that when two business entities share one address, the support ceiling will double from 50 million won to 100 million won. Recovery unit costs will be raised for 18 species including flounder and rockfish, and seven additional items — including laver seedstock — will be newly added to the list of eligible products.
The government is expanding support because heatwave and drought damage is spreading across the farming, livestock and fisheries sectors. In South Gyeongsang Province and South Jeolla Province, sunscald and growth damage have been reported across 1,125.7 hectares of sweet persimmons and 572.5 hectares of rice paddies, as well as soybeans (38 ha), pears (33.3 ha), sesame (21.7 ha) and chili peppers (19.6 ha).
In the livestock sector, 54,299 pigs and 944,234 poultry had died from the heat as of Friday, for a combined total of 998,533 animals — approaching 1 million. Livestock losses are nonetheless down 61 percent compared with last year. The share of dead animals relative to total livestock in production stands at 0.4 percent for pigs, 0.6 percent for broiler chickens and 0.08 percent for laying hens.
High-water-temperature damage continues at sea. As of Monday, advisories for water temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius or above had been issued for 31 of the country's 35 coastal zones, with the crisis alert at the "Serious I" level. The number of farmed fish killed by high water temperatures has reached 1.83 million, equivalent to about 0.5 percent of total farmed fish.
Average precipitation in Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province, Gwangju and South Jeolla Province in July was 101.5 millimeters, down 64.7 percent from 287.6 millimeters in the same period last year. The combination of low rainfall and intense heat has caused sea-surface temperatures in the East and South seas to rise rapidly.
The impact on seafood prices has so far been limited. The retail price of flounder edged down 0.02 percent, from 37,960 won per kilogram in July to 37,950 won in August. Rockfish prices also fell slightly over the same period, from 37,550 won to 37,430 won per kilogram — a 0.3 percent decline — remaining broadly stable.
The government views overall supply conditions for crops as stable despite some localized damage. According to the Korea Rural Economic Institute's August outlook, apple output this year is forecast at 487,000 tons, surpassing last year's 448,000 tons and the historical average of 475,000 tons. Pear output is projected at 200,000 tons and sweet persimmon output at 96,000 tons, both higher than last year and the historical average.
The government said that while the impact on supply and prices of agricultural, livestock and fishery products remains limited for now, a prolonged heatwave and high water temperatures could reduce output and cause price volatility. It said it will continue to monitor crop growth conditions in production areas, livestock mortality and damage to farmed fish.
adastra@heraldcorp.com
