South Gyeongsang Province has launched a detailed damage survey and disaster relief payment process after secondary garlic growth damage, known as "beolmaneul," caused by abnormal spring weather was officially recognized as a statutory agricultural disaster.

The beolmaneul phenomenon occurs when abnormal weather conditions, including high spring temperatures, frequent rainfall, and insufficient sunlight, combine around the clove differentiation period when garlic bulbs split. Growth points reactivate ahead of harvest, causing leaves to regrow from the cloves. As the cloves spread apart, normal whole-bulb formation becomes difficult, significantly reducing marketability.

Damage is estimated to have occurred on 561 hectares, or approximately 8.3 percent of South Gyeongsang's total garlic cultivation area of 6,791 hectares. Hapcheon County recorded the largest affected area at 247.3 hectares, followed by Changnyeong County with 216 hectares and Hadong County with 50 hectares. Damage was confirmed across 13 cities and counties.

The province will conduct a detailed damage survey through the fifth of next month before disbursing disaster relief funds. Under the support criteria, garlic farms will receive approximately 2.4 million won per hectare for pesticide costs. Farms suffering severe damage exceeding 50 percent of total holdings can receive additional management stabilization support of approximately 2 million won for a four-person household, based on entries in the National Disaster Management System (NDMS).

"Recent abnormal weather has caused frequent crop damage, adding to the difficulties of farming households," said Jang Young-wook, director of the provincial Agricultural Policy Bureau. "We will conduct thorough investigations during the detailed survey period to ensure no affected farms are overlooked, and will swiftly disburse disaster relief funds to ease the financial burden on garlic-growing households."

Source - https://en.sedaily.com