NH NongHyup Central Federation is rolling out a comprehensive relief package for farmers hit by the heat wave and drought, including an emergency injection of 300 billion won ($211 million) in disaster relief funds.
Chairman Kang Ho-dong visited farmland, reservoirs and heat-relief shelters in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, on Friday to assess agricultural water supplies and heat response systems, the federation said Sunday.
During the field visit, Kang delivered 40 units of irrigation equipment — including water pumps — along with disaster relief supplies to affected farms.
The federation also plans to expand support for farming and livestock materials needed to prevent heat and drought damage. Through livestock cooperatives, it will provide water-spraying support to 3,693 farms particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. It will also draw on 1.7 billion won from a crop supply stabilization fund to subsidize pesticides aimed at preventing heat damage and pest outbreaks.
To reduce heat-related losses across livestock types, the federation plans to spend 400 million won on installing heat-mitigation facilities, improving productivity and supplying nutritional feed to livestock farmers.
NongHyup operates 5,927 heat-relief shelters nationwide, offering farmers cool resting spaces and drinking water. It is also distributing about 1 million hand fans, about 1 million packets of onion juice and 200,000 heat-safety leaflets tailored for farmers, while running public awareness campaigns on heat illness prevention.
Last year, NongHyup mobilized 800 billion won in disaster relief funds and donated about 11 billion won in response to wildfires, floods, heat waves and heavy snowfall. More than 17,000 NongHyup executives and employees took part in volunteer activities to help farmers recover quickly and resume operations.
"As the record-breaking heat wave and drought drag on, farmers are facing greater hardship than ever," Kang said. "NongHyup will focus all of its capabilities on minimizing damage to farmers — including the emergency 300 billion won relief — and on protecting their health and safety through the operation of heat-relief shelters."
oskymoon@heraldcorp.com
