Due to extreme heat and prolonged drought, crop damage in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, is increasing, prompting the city to focus on securing emergency agricultural water and responding to the situation on-site.
According to city reports, drought damage has been confirmed on 394.82 hectares of crops as of now.
As of August 10, the weather drought in Gimhae has reached the 'alert' stage (severe drought). Water levels in rivers and reservoirs in areas such as Jinrye, Jinyeong, Hanlim, Saengnim, and Sangdong have dropped, leading to a vulnerable water supply situation. The number of affected farms is still being tallied.
The combination of drought and extreme heat has severely impacted local farmers growing Danja, a representative agricultural product of the region. According to the city, the damage from sunburn to Danja has affected 319 farms over 311 hectares, with a damage rate estimated at around 35%.
Danja affected by sunburn shows browning of the skin and softening of the flesh, leading to a decrease in overall yield and marketability. Symptoms such as tree dieback and leaf wilting are also occurring, particularly among trees that were already weak.
Mayor Jeong Young-do visited Danja farms on August 10 to assess the growth conditions and the status of agricultural water supply, listening to the farmers' concerns.
In response, the city is working to secure alternative water resources beyond existing sources. The Jinrye Public Sewage Treatment Plant discharges 5,000 tons of water daily, of which 1,800 to 3,600 tons are flexibly supplied as agricultural water depending on the drought situation.
The quality of the discharged water meets the agricultural water quality standards set by the 'Act on the Promotion and Support of Water Reuse,' benefiting an area of 45.3 hectares.
Earlier, the city completed the installation of a temporary dam downstream of the Hapocheon River on August 3 and increased the discharge from the Myeongdong Water Treatment Plant from 1,000 tons to 1,900 tons on August 4.
During his inspections of the Jinrye Public Sewage Treatment Plant and the Hapocheon River, Mayor Jeong instructed, "Actively explore available water resources within the limits that do not disrupt the supply of drinking water to citizens."
Support for farmers in preparation for prolonged drought will also be expanded. The city is currently operating eight water supply trucks and plans to coordinate with local fire departments for additional water supply support. Additional pumps will be purchased and deployed to each town and village.
Drilling work is underway for water development projects focused on areas in need, while assessments of aging and damaged wells are being conducted for repairs. The city plans to continue additional water development and well repairs as needed through future drought preparedness budgets.
Additionally, Mayor Jeong visited the Nakdong River intake site to strengthen on-site responses to algal blooms. He ordered continuous monitoring of water quality and algal bloom conditions, enhancing on-site checks around the intake and rivers, while maintaining a cooperative system with relevant agencies to respond swiftly to changes in water quality.
Mayor Jeong stated, "The extreme heat and drought directly impact citizens' daily lives, agriculture, and the local economy, so we will carefully monitor the situation and proactively implement measures that citizens truly need to minimize damage."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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