Namhae County Spinach Damage from Heavy Rain Recognized as Agricultural Disaster; 660 Hectares Estimated Damaged

Ministry of Agriculture Recognizes Damage as an Agricultural Disaster on November 9; Assessments Begin in All 10 Townships and Myeon Areas

Estimated Damage: About 660 Hectares; Projected Farm Income Loss: KRW 18 Billion

Farm-by-Farm Damage Assessments to Be Completed by November 20; Follow-Up Procedures for Disaster Relief Payments to Begin

Spinach, a major source of income for farmers in Namhae County, South Gyeongsang Province, was damaged by heavy rain last October. After the government recognized the damage as an agricultural disaster, support procedures for affected farms are now moving forward in earnest.

Namhae County said on November 10 that damage to spinach crops caused by heavy rain from October 23 to 26 was recognized as an agricultural disaster by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on November 9.

[Photo provided by Namhae County] County officials inspect the growth and damage to crops at spinach farms affected by heavy rain. The county plans to survey the damaged area at each farm through the 20th.

The county will begin damage assessments in all 10 townships and myeon areas and use the results to determine which farms are eligible for support and the amount of assistance they will receive.

According to Namhae County, a total of 113.2 millimeters of rain fell over the four days from October 23 to 26, accounting for about 52% of the total rainfall in October.

As a result, some spinach fields experienced flooded furrows and delayed drainage. Excessive soil moisture also caused root rot, leaf yellowing, wilting, poor crop growth and poor germination.

Spinach is a major source of income for farmers in Namhae County, and the damage from the heavy rain is expected to affect production and income at farms growing the crop.

As of early November, the county estimated that about 660 hectares of spinach crops had been damaged, equivalent to about 60% of the total cultivated area of 1,100 hectares.

The estimated loss in farm income is about KRW 18 billion. However, the area damaged and the scale of the income loss may change depending on the results of detailed assessments.

Since the damage occurred, Namhae County has conducted on-site inspections and reported the situation to relevant agencies, including South Gyeongsang Province and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, while discussing recognition of the damage as an agricultural disaster and possible support measures.

The county also requested an extension of the enrollment period for spinach crop insurance to expand farmers' opportunity to sign up. The enrollment deadline, initially set for November 6, was extended to November 13.

As a follow-up to the recognition of the damage as an agricultural disaster, the county will assess spinach damage in all 10 townships and myeon areas from November 9 to 20. The assessment will check whether each farm actually cultivated spinach, the area under cultivation, whether damage occurred and the extent of the damage.

The county will also include farms not identified in previous assessments, small-scale farms and plots spread across multiple areas to reduce the risk of farms being missed during damage reporting and on-site inspections.

Once the assessments are complete, the results will be entered into the National Disaster Management Information System (NDMS). The disaster index for each farm and its eligibility for support will then be determined in accordance with relevant criteria.

After the necessary procedures, including damage verification and calculation of the amount of support, the county will proceed with the payment of disaster relief funds.

However, recognition of the damage as an agricultural disaster does not guarantee that all affected farms will receive the same amount of support. Actual eligibility and payment amounts will be determined based on the assessment results and relevant support criteria.

Namhae County Governor Ryu Kyung-wan urged the heads of all 10 townships and myeon areas to thoroughly inspect the affected sites and work with village heads and agricultural organizations to ensure that no farms are left out of the assessment.

“Now that the damage to spinach crops from the heavy rain has been recognized as an agricultural disaster, it is important to conduct damage assessments quickly and accurately,” Ryu said. “We will thoroughly inspect the sites to ensure no affected farms are missed, accurately calculate the damaged area and disaster index, and ensure that support is provided.”

Namhae County plans to proceed with follow-up support procedures in coordination with relevant agencies based on the assessment results and review measures to help affected farms resume agricultural production.

For recognition of the heavy-rain damage to spinach as an agricultural disaster to result in meaningful support for farms, it is important to accurately assess the damage, ensure small-scale farms are not missed and pay relief funds promptly.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.