Agriculture minister visits Iksan amid record heat to check on chickens, lettuce

Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryeong (first from left) inspects growing conditions and on-site heat response measures at a lettuce greenhouse in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, on Saturday. [Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs]

Amid a record-breaking heat wave, Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryeong visited a broiler farm and a greenhouse to assess heat damage prevention efforts and urge farmers to prioritize safety.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Song toured a broiler farm and a lettuce greenhouse in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, on Saturday to review heat response measures and check whether heat illness prevention protocols were being followed for both farmers and foreign workers.

Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryeong reviews heat response measures and inspects crop growing conditions with farmers at a lettuce greenhouse in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, on Saturday. [Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs]

Song first visited a broiler farm in North Jeolla Province, checking the operation of cooling pads and ventilation systems, electrical safety management and the supply of heat-stress relief agents. North Jeolla is the country's largest broiler-raising region, and officials said on-site response is critical given the heightened risk of mass chicken deaths if the heat wave persists.

The ministry is supplying heat-stress relief agents and cooling equipment through local governments, the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and livestock industry self-help funds. It is also running a mobile water-spraying service and a dedicated heat response operations center for the livestock sector to minimize losses.

Song then visited a lettuce greenhouse in Iksan to inspect crop management conditions and heat illness prevention measures for farmers and foreign workers. Iksan is North Jeolla Province's largest lettuce-producing area, and officials are concerned that a prolonged heat wave could slow growth and trigger pest outbreaks, reducing output.

The ministry is continuously monitoring weather and crop conditions to ensure stable production of greenhouse vegetables, while also stepping up support for shade-coating agents and high-temperature damage prevention chemicals and strengthening irrigation management.

"I am grateful to the farmers working hard to produce agricultural and livestock products even amid record heat," Song said. "The ministry will mobilize every available resource to prevent heat damage."

She also urged farmers to strictly follow heat response guidelines for livestock management and crop care to minimize losses, and called on them to check heat wave advisories and stop work during the hottest hours of the day. "Above all, the health and safety of farmers and foreign workers is paramount," she said, stressing that heat illness prevention rules must be observed without exception.

adastra@heraldcorp.com