Farms hit with coldest weather in 100 years as well as FMD
Koreans have time-honored beliefs that misfortune never comes alone ― they tend to believe that the worst-case scenario is when three disasters devastate all involved.
That seems to be the case for domestic farmers this winter when three catastrophes happened with the rapid spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), avian influenza, and heavy snowfall creating the perfect storm.
That seems to be the case for domestic farmers this winter when three catastrophes happened with the rapid spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), avian influenza, and heavy snowfall creating the perfect storm.
The triple woes are likely to negatively affect the foundations of the farming industry because they have already claimed the lives of so many cows, pigs and hens, consequently reducing output of other agricultural produce.
``Millions of animals have been culled over the past few months due to FMD and bird flu, causing the prices of pork, beef or chicken to rise. Worse, they have yet to show signs of stabilizing,’’ a Seoul analyst said.
``On a more negative note, the unprecedented massive snowfall recently spoiled winter crops to aggravate inflationary pressure. We have no choice but to worry about the basis of the country’s overall farming industry.’’
The three adversities have begun to impact the country in a variety of ways.
According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp. (aT), the price of pork rocketed by 37.9 percent from a year ago as of the end of last week. That of chicken also jumped 24.5 percent over the same period.
With the appreciation of meat values due to the two rampant diseases, consumers have been prompted to turn to seafood and the increased demand has also caused similar price hikes. For example, the price of mackerel has leapt 42 percent from a year ago.
In this climate, aT head Ha Young-je is concerned that Asia’s fourth-largest economy might see its exports of agricultural and marine products halve this year compared to 2010.
The country chalked up $6 billion in outbound shipments of such products last year and set a target for 2011 of $7.6 billion. But the state-run agency is now worried that its real performance might plunge to around $3 billion.
``Korea lost the status of an FDM-free country and this is feared to weigh heavily on the image of the nation among foreign buyers. Furthermore, severe climate change and stronger typhoons are expected this summer,’’ Ha told a press conference held last Friday.
``In fact, we are struggling to meet local demand for agricultural and marine products as their prices continue to march upward on international markets. In this situation, our exports are expected to be undermined.’’
FMD broke out last November in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province and subsequently spread across the country. Thus far, around 3.4 million animals have been destroyed including pigs, cows, goats and deer.
The bird flu came a month later to force the Seoul administration to kill approximately 5.5 million ducks and hens.
This month’s record snowfall in eastern coastal areas including Gangwon and Gyeongsang provinces were the final ingredients for the perfect storm as many livestock sheds and greenhouses were destroyed.
voc200@koreatimes.co.kr
Source: newsroom - farmingnewsdaily.co.uk