The ongoing drought is having a severe impact on local farms. The agricultural water supply to some areas is now being cut off every other day. Joseph Kim reports.

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Daeheul-ri, Jocheon-eup

This is a mandarin farm in (대흘리) Daeheul-ri, (조천읍)Jocheon-eup, Jeju City.

The ground in the greenhouse is parched and dusty.

The water soluble blue fertilizing granules under the trees remain undissolved.

No water is coming out of the farm water tap.

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Drought interrupts agricultural water supply

The agricultural water supply has been suspended since July 10th.

The suspension aggravates the drought at farms.

The newly planted seedlings don’t grow and leaves cannot sprout on the young trees.

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Farmers forced to use expensive treated water

Farms are forced to use expensive treated water with a low pressure flow.

It's a big burden to the farmers.

INTERVIEW
Yang Soon-hui / Mandarin grower
We've used an additional 300 tons of treated water this summer. We're afraid of a big water bill because of the progressive pricing system.
< 양순희 / 감귤 농가 >
(생활용수로) 300톤 더 썼는데 계량기에 나오는 양은 충분히 내겠는데 거기서 추가되면 나중에는 누진세가 있으니까 그게 더 부담이 돼요.

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Water supply cut off every other day in Waheul-ri, Jocheon-eup

The water shortage forces agricultural water to be severely rationed in some areas.

Currently, farm water is supplied every other day at about thirty farms.

INTERVIEW
Kim Pyeong-sam / Mandarin grower
I wish it would rain today. If we don’t get any in the next ten days, it will be a big problem. All the mandarin trees will wither.
< 김평삼 / 감귤 농가 >
오늘이라도 비가 오면 좋지만 10일 내에 안오면 곤란하죠. (감귤이) 다 말라 죽어버리죠.

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Ko Moon-su

However, no significant relief is forecast for the time being, while the gloom is deepening for local farmers.

Joseph Kim, KCTV