Afternoon high temperatures have now remained in the low thirties for weeks. That and a lack of rain have local farmers really struggling. Choi Sue-jin reports.


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Gujwa-eup, Jeju City

A carrot grower has been forced to give up growing the root plant at this farm in (구좌읍) Gujwa-eup, Jeju City.

The seeds should have been sown by now for harvesting in winter, but it has been impossible with the soil completely dried up.

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Drought hits when winter vegetables should be planted

It is so dry that the soil will break apart in even the slightest breeze.

Unless it starts to rain soon, this year's carrot farming is practically doomed.

All farmers can do at this point is pray.

INTERVIEW
Song Cheol-ju / Carrot grower
The pain we farmers feel is like the scorching heat. I wish the skies would give us even a little rain...
<인터뷰 : 송철주/ 당근 농가>
"농민들의 농심이 태양의 온도만큼 타들어 가고 있습니다. 하늘이 도움을 줘서 비가 조금이라도 내려주면..."

It’s a similar story for this nearby beanfield.

There are cracks in the earth everywhere and the leaves have withered to the point they crumble if you touch them.

What we’re seeing is an indication of drought... as daytime temperatures haven't dropped below 33 degree celsius for weeks... and there’s been hardly enough rain.

In fact the island hasn't seen anything remotely similar to a downpour for over two weeks since early July.


The soil water tension has already reached the level of ‘very dry’ at 500 kilo-paskals in (동명리) Dongmyeong-ri, (한림읍) Hallim-eup and (위미리) Wimi-ri, (남원읍) Namwon-eup. A higher number means more pressure is needed for a plant to extract water from the soil.

7 other regions including (신엄리) Sineom-ri, (애월읍) Aewol-eup and (강정동) Gangjeong-dong, Seogwipo are showing signs of an early stage of drought.


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Drought slows crop growth

Fall harvest crops, such as beans, are withering... and with no water around, winter crops like carrots and cabbages are not taking root.

INTERVIEW
Oh Seung-jin / Jeju Agricultural Research & Extension Services
If the seeds don't grow, farmers will be forced to try other crops, like potatoes or radishes. This will lead to an overproduction of potatoes and radishes, which will result in a whole different set of problems.
<인터뷰 : 오승진/ 제주특별자치도농업기술원 동부농업기술센터>
"제대로 자라지 않아서 재파종을 하게 되면 그 다음 할 수 있는게 감자나 무를 파종하게 되는데 그렇게 되면 감자나 무가 과잉이 될 수 있습니다. 이렇게 연속적으로 문제가 될 수 있습니다."

Local officials will hold a meeting to discuss countermeasures and the province has promised it will do everything possible to minimize damage on the island’s farms.

[Reporter] Choi Sue-jin
[Camera] Hyeon Gwang-hoon

However, with no rain expected in the foreseeable future, the wait is becoming just as unbearable for the farmers... as the heat itself.

Choi Sue-jin, KCTV