◀ anchor ▶
Due to this year’s unprecedented drought, farmers are suffering from a lack of water enough to call it a ‘water war’.
For some reason, the grass on the golf course is just green.
It has been confirmed that the Rural Community Corporation has publicly sold agricultural water to golf courses.
Reporter Yang Jeong-eun will tell you.
◀ Report ▶
Green grass spreads out on the golf course, and the trees are lush with greenery.
The artificial pond built on the course is also full of water.
The golf course is overflowing with water to such an extent that the unprecedented drought is disregarded, with the amount of precipitation being only half that of last year.
[골프장 관계자]
“When we see the pond (artificial lake) go down like this, it doesn’t look good visually. We have to sell our products…”
On the other hand, field crops in farmland near the golf course are yellow and dry.
As crops burn to death, one following another, even to the point of plowing the fields.
Although there is an agricultural reservoir nearby, farmers have been complaining that water supply has not been smooth since spring.
[농민/전남 해남군 화원면]
“There is no water in the reservoir. Both below and below… It is difficult to do cabbage (farming), now. Because there is no water…”
The Sindeok Reservoir was created to supply water to the surrounding 428 hectare farmland.
As the drought continued, the water level in the reservoir dropped significantly, and the remaining water was filled with only green algae.
Around this time last year, the water storage rate was around 70-80%, but this year it is at a level of 30%, making it difficult to supply water.
However, the golf course used 240,000 tons of water from this reservoir this year.
Since 2019, 1.41 million tons of agricultural water has been used for golf course lawns and landscaping.
It’s not free.
The Rural Community Corporation made a profit of 100 million won during the same period by selling water at a golf course at 68 to 81 won per ton.
[한국농어촌공사 관계자]
“Just as the road corporation receives a fee by using the resources in the Rural Development Corporation to create demand in the state, it is the national law to use the surplus water that remains in the Rural Community Corporation reservoir.”
He also explained that the water has not been sold to golf courses since the end of May, when the water retention rate fell to less than 60% compared to the average year.
However, the low yield has already fallen to a serious level in the 20% range, and farmers are complaining that they have ruined their crops for the year.
[김선택/전남 해남군 문내면]
“I should water the farmers, what would I use to water a useless golf course?”
There are 14 agricultural reservoirs nationwide that have sold agricultural water to golf courses this year.
This is Yang Jeong-eun from MBC News.
Video coverage Kim Seung-ho / Mokpo
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