South Korea Bolsters Livestock Disease Prevention Ahead of Lunar New Year
Nonghyup, the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, is launching a comprehensive emergency plan to combat a surge in livestock diseases and safeguard the nation’s food supply as the Lunar New Year holiday approaches. The initiative includes significant financial investment and a ramp-up of on-site disinfection efforts.
The move comes as South Korea grapples with a simultaneous outbreak of three highly concerning livestock diseases: African swine fever (ASF), highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI), and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). This winter alone, authorities have confirmed 10 cases of ASF, 42 cases of AI, and 1 case of FMD, prompting a heightened national alert level.
Emergency Funding and Support for Farmers
To alleviate the financial strain on farmers facing increased quarantine costs, Nonghyup has allocated 70 billion won (approximately $53.7 million USD) in emergency, interest-free funds. This funding will directly support the disinfection of livestock farms across the country.
“We will work closely with the government and local governments to focus all our capabilities to prevent the spread of livestock diseases during the Lunar New Year holiday,” stated Kang Ho-dong, chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, during an emergency video conference held on Thursday.
In addition to the financial aid, Nonghyup will distribute 500 million won (approximately $384,000 USD) worth of emergency quarantine supplies, including essential disinfectants like quicklime. The organization will also implement financial relief measures for affected farms, such as loan deadline postponements, payment deferrals, and special disaster credit guarantees.
Enhanced Disinfection Measures and Equipment Deployment
Nonghyup is significantly bolstering on-site disinfection efforts, mobilizing 1,000 pieces of quarantine equipment nationwide. This includes existing disinfection vehicles, as well as drones and wide-area pest control machines. On January 10th, the Nonghyup Gangwon Headquarters and the Wonju Livestock Cooperative Joint Pest Control Team were observed precisely disinfecting areas surrounding livestock farms using these advanced technologies at the Wonju Stream Migratory Bird Sanctuary.
The increased disinfection is particularly focused on crowded areas of livestock farms and locations identified as vulnerable to virus introduction. To further intensify preventative measures, the period two days before and after the Lunar New Year holiday has been designated as “intensive disinfection days.” During this time, the Pan-Agricultural Cooperative Livestock Disease Prevention Team will conduct thorough inspections of farms, ensuring adherence to essential quarantine protocols. These protocols include strict control of vehicle access and comprehensive disinfection of both the interior and exterior of livestock barns.
The Lunar New Year holiday is considered a critical period due to the anticipated surge in travel and increased shipment volumes, which could potentially contribute to the spread of disease. Autonomous quarantine practices at the farm level will be crucial during this time.
Kang Ho-dong emphasized the importance of animal quarantine, stating, “Animal quarantine is an issue directly related to the safety of the people’s food.” The comprehensive plan underscores Nonghyup’s commitment to protecting both the agricultural sector and public health.
