Jeju Winter Veggie Crisis
- JEJU CITY, South Korea (April 29, 2025) — Rising temperatures attributed to global warming are impacting traditional winter vegetable farming in jeju, where crops like radishes, carrots, and...
- The focus is shifting towards cultivating climate-resilient crop varieties and adopting advanced farming technologies, such as smart farms.
- The Seoul garak Market Wholesale Market Corporation and the Korea Rural Leaders' Central Federation convened a debate on April 28 in Jeju City to address these challenges.
Jeju Agriculture Faces Climate Change Challenges, Seeks Innovative Solutions
Table of Contents
- Jeju Agriculture Faces Climate Change Challenges, Seeks Innovative Solutions
- Jeju Agriculture: Adapting to Climate Change – Your Questions Answered
- What challenges is Jeju’s agriculture facing?
- How is climate change affecting specific crops in Jeju?
- What evidence supports the claim that Jeju’s climate is changing?
- What are the solutions being proposed to combat these challenges?
- Are consumer preferences changing regarding Jeju vegetables?
- Who is involved in addressing these agricultural challenges?
- What are some specific examples of triumphant strategies?
- What does the future hold for Jeju agriculture?
JEJU CITY, South Korea (April 29, 2025) — Rising temperatures attributed to global warming are impacting traditional winter vegetable farming in jeju, where crops like radishes, carrots, and cabbage are experiencing declining yields. Stakeholders are calling for new strategies in production and distribution to bolster the competitiveness of JejuS agricultural sector.
Adapting to a Changing Climate
The focus is shifting towards cultivating climate-resilient crop varieties and adopting advanced farming technologies, such as smart farms. The expansion of “Jerin” systems (a type of protected cultivation) and temperature-controlled transportation are also under consideration.
Debate on Agricultural Competitiveness
The Seoul garak Market Wholesale Market Corporation and the Korea Rural Leaders’ Central Federation convened a debate on April 28 in Jeju City to address these challenges. The event, part of the ongoing “Overcoming Climate Crisis Woori Agricultural Products” initiative, was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Rural Growth Management, and the Lakeside Group.
Winter Vegetable Production Declines
Kang Tae-wan, head of the vegetable research team at the Jeju Island Agricultural Research and Development Institute, stated that crop cultivation is changing in response to the island’s shifting climate. According to Kang, Jeju’s average annual temperature last year was 1.7 degrees Celsius higher than average,and annual precipitation reached 139 mm,a 7.8% decrease compared to the previous year’s 1791 mm. He noted particularly heavy rainfall in February and during the autumn months.
These conditions led to damage to crops such as garlic, onions, carrots, and cabbage during their growth stages. Unseasonable heavy snow and cold waves in winter, coupled with the occurrence of an East Sea event (likely referring to unusual oceanographic conditions), frequent rainfall, and abnormally high temperatures, increased onion division, impacting crop quality and yield. “As winter vegetable crops are not safe,price and farm income volatility has increased,” Kang said.
Consumer Perceptions Shifting
Consumer preferences regarding Jeju vegetables are also evolving. Agricultural researcher Lee Jin-jin, presenting on “Jeju Winter Vegetable Consumption Trends - Carrots and Cabbage,” reported that in April, 83% of respondents indicated that origin was not a primary factor when purchasing cabbage.
Strategies for Strengthening Competitiveness
Participants proposed strategies targeting both production and distribution to enhance the competitiveness of Jeju agricultural products.
Kang emphasized the need to “foster and distribute new varieties that are highly resistant to pests and abnormalities.” He also advocated for controlling the cultivation environment through expanded adoption of high-tech methods like smart farms to mitigate the impact of heavy rains, droughts, and high temperatures.
Ahn Kyung-ah, a researcher at the Jeju Research Institute, highlighted the frequent occurrence of high temperatures and their negative impact on the quality of winter vegetables.
kim Myung-bae, head of the management planning team, cited the success of Jeju Mountain Pavilion in targeting specific markets by supplying “Kanpa” (likely a specific product or variety) directly to consumers.
Looking Ahead
Jeju’s agricultural sector is actively seeking solutions to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change, focusing on innovation in crop development, farming techniques, and distribution strategies to ensure its continued competitiveness.
Jeju Agriculture: Adapting to Climate Change – Your Questions Answered
What challenges is Jeju’s agriculture facing?
Jeju’s agricultural sector is grappling with the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures and altered weather patterns, including heavier rainfall and changes in precipitation, are disrupting conventional farming practices. These changes are leading to declining yields and impacting the quality of crops like garlic, onions, carrots, and cabbage. Unseasonable cold snaps,events in the East Sea (likely referring to unusual oceanographic conditions),and abnormal temperatures are further exacerbating the situation.
How is climate change affecting specific crops in Jeju?
Winter vegetable crops are particularly vulnerable.Increases in temperature and heavy rainfall during growth stages lead to crop damage. For example, onions have experienced issues with division, affecting both yield and quality. Heavy snow and cold waves in winter, combined with these other conditions, have made winter vegetable production less reliable, increasing price and income volatility for farmers.
What evidence supports the claim that Jeju’s climate is changing?
According to Kang Tae-wan,head of the vegetable research team at the Jeju Island Agricultural Research and Development Institute,Jeju’s average annual temperature was 1.7 degrees Celsius higher than average last year. Annual precipitation reached 139 mm,representing a 7.8% decrease compared to the previous year’s 1791 mm. important rainfall patterns were observed in February and throughout the autumn months.
What are the solutions being proposed to combat these challenges?
Stakeholders, including researchers and industry leaders, are investigating a multi-pronged approach to enhance the competitiveness of Jeju agricultural products. Key strategies focus on:
- Developing climate-Resilient Varieties: Kang Tae-wan emphasizes the need to “foster and distribute new varieties that are highly resistant to pests and abnormalities.”
- Adopting Advanced technologies: Increasing the use of smart farms and other high-tech methods is proposed to control the cultivation environment and mitigate the effects of climate change factors like heavy rains,drought,and high temperatures.
- Improving Distribution and Infrastructure: The expansion of “Jerin” systems (a type of protected cultivation) and temperature-controlled transportation are also being considered.
Are consumer preferences changing regarding Jeju vegetables?
Yes.Agricultural researcher Lee Jin-jin found that in April, 83% of respondents indicated that the origin of the cabbage was not a primary factor when making a purchase.
Who is involved in addressing these agricultural challenges?
A debate was convened on April 28 in Jeju City by the Seoul Garak Market Wholesale Market Corporation and the Korea Rural Leaders’ Central Federation to address these challenges. The event, part of the “Overcoming Climate Crisis Woori Agricultural Products” initiative, was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, the Rural Growth Management, and the Lakeside Group.
What are some specific examples of triumphant strategies?
Kim Myung-bae, head of the management planning team, highlighted the Jeju Mountain Pavilion’s success in targeting specific markets by directly supplying “Kanpa” (likely a specific product or variety) to consumers as a model to follow.
What does the future hold for Jeju agriculture?
Jeju’s agricultural sector is actively seeking solutions to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.The focus is on innovation in crop development, farming techniques, and distribution strategies to ensure that Jeju’s agricultural sector can continue to thrive.