The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it will conduct a special inspection targeting local governments nationwide from the 5th to the 14th to check the status of farmer safety and agricultural facility management as the heatwave and drought prolong.

Together with the Korea Rural Community Corporation and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, the Ministry will form a joint inspection team consisting of 136 inspection units and about 400 personnel to review the heatwave and drought response situations in cities and counties across the country.

The inspection team will check whether village broadcasts, vehicle patrols, and street broadcasts are being implemented to prevent heat-related illnesses among farmers. They will also inspect the operational status of ventilation and shading facilities in greenhouse structures, moisture management facilities such as motor pumps, and orchard irrigation facilities.

In the livestock sector, inspections will cover maintaining appropriate stocking densities, installing shade nets, and operating cooling equipment such as ventilation fans and cooling pads.

To address the drought, the ministry plans to review water supply measures such as filling reservoirs using river water, excavating riverbeds, mobilizing water tankers, and installing and operating pumping facilities.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to take immediate corrective actions for any deficiencies found during the inspection, gather difficulties from farming sites, and pursue necessary institutional improvements.

(Photo: Yonhap News)