Minister Song Mi-ryeong 'Efforts to Minimize Livestock Heatwave Damage'... TF Operation and Water Supply Network Deployment

[Financial News]  Minister Song Mi-ryeong of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs visited a pig farm in Hongseong-gun, Chungnam on the 13th and said, "The safety of farmers and field workers is of utmost importance," and urged, "Please prevent heat-related illnesses by taking sufficient rest and hydration during work, and provide ample cool water to livestock to maintain the temperature inside the barn."
Minister Song emphasized, "With the prolonged heatwave, the risk of livestock deaths is increasing," and said, "The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will actively consider practical support measures, including cooling equipment and reducing the burden of electricity bills, reflecting on-site opinions."
She also requested, "Local governments should prepare effective measures that farmers can practically feel."
The on-site inspection on this day was promoted as part of a comprehensive response system by the central government, local governments, and the agricultural cooperative to address the rapid increase in livestock deaths due to the heatwave nationwide. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has formed and is operating a 'Heatwave Response Livestock Damage Minimization Task Force (TF)' from this day, designating dedicated personnel in local governments to quickly identify and address damage reports and difficulties.
In particular, the TF will strengthen the water supply support network. Together with available vehicles from local governments, it plans to supply water to desired farms and risk areas by linking with the joint prevention team of regional agricultural cooperatives (540 vehicles), NH quarantine support team (117 vehicles), agricultural cooperative feed vehicles (7 vehicles), and vehicles cooperating with the fire department. Local governments and producer groups are also supporting heatwave prevention items such as ice, immune boosters, and shading nets.
The livestock sector heatwave response budget independently organized by local governments (excluding national funds, approximately 22.1 billion won) is expected to be fully executed by July, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to actively discover additional support needs thereafter.
On this day, the farm owner suggested measures to alleviate the burden due to the support of heatwave response equipment such as air conditioners and ice makers and the rise in electricity bills, and Minister Song introduced support measures through the barn facility modernization project. In addition, the accompanying agricultural cooperative demonstrated the operation of water supply vehicles using quarantine vehicles, explaining that it could be an effective measure for farms with water shortages or barns without insulation.
Minister Song ordered local government and agricultural cooperative officials to "fully utilize the special grant from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (allocated on July 11, 35 billion won), quickly identify on-site requests, and closely coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs."


spring@fnnews.com Reporter Lee Bo-mi