Haenam County is providing on-site processing support for agricultural waste, such as pepper stalks, perilla stalks, and fruit tree branches, to help farmers avoid burning these materials after harvest.
On September 28, the county announced the launch of the "Agricultural Waste Mobile Processing Support Project" to reduce the risk of wildfires and fine dust caused by illegal burning of agricultural waste during the fall season.
The county plans to establish a processing support team in September and will begin visiting farms from October to November to process agricultural byproducts generated during the harvest, including pepper stalks, perilla stalks, and fruit tree branches.
Eligible participants are farmers with land in Haenam County. Applications can be submitted until November 30, and interested farmers and villages must gather the agricultural waste at designated locations for processing.
To address the challenges faced by aging farmers and labor shortages in rural areas, priority will be given to vulnerable groups, including farmers aged 75 and older, women farmers, and farmers with disabilities.
Agricultural waste left on fields or burned after harvest is identified as a contributing factor to wildfires and fine dust in the fall. The Korea Forest Service is also promoting agricultural waste processing and the removal of flammable materials as part of its wildfire prevention initiatives.
In the first half of this year, Haenam County processed agricultural waste for 147 farms, covering an area of 12.3 hectares. In the second half, the county plans to expand mobile processing to coincide with the peak period for agricultural waste generation, thereby reducing the burden on farmers and enhancing the effectiveness of wildfire prevention efforts.
Park Hyun-woo, head of the Agricultural Machinery Team at the Agricultural Technology Center, stated, "We will actively support timely processing of fall agricultural waste to enhance convenience for farmers and prevent wildfires and fine dust caused by illegal burning. We ask for the active participation and cooperation of farmers in this initiative."
The mobile processing of agricultural waste will be concentrated until November. Farmers or villages wishing to participate can apply through the Agricultural Machinery Team at the Haenam Agricultural Technology Center or their respective town or village offices.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.