Agriculture is one of the first sectors to feel the impact of climate change. Crop growth depends on temperature, rainfall, sunlight, and soil—factors that climate change is making increasingly unpredictable. This article offers essential climate-related information for farmers, focusing on temperature, drought, pests, and adaptive strategies.
1. How Rising Temperatures Affect Crop Growth
Higher average temperatures impact crop growth cycles, yields, and quality. While moderate heat can boost photosynthesis, excessive temperatures reduce productivity. For example, rice suffers yield drops above 30°C, and apples may lose firmness and color, reducing marketability. Warm-climate crops are also migrating north, requiring farmers to adjust cultivation zones and techniques.
2. Rainfall Patterns, Drought, and Flooding
Unpredictable rainfall now causes frequent floods and droughts. Torrential rain damages root systems, while dry spells hinder germination. According to Korea’s Rural Development Administration, drought-affected farmland more than doubled in 2023. Effective water management systems are now critical for farming resilience.
3. Pest Outbreaks and Changing Cultivation
Warmer temperatures increase pest survival during winter, leading to earlier and larger outbreaks. Pests like fall armyworm and tobacco budworm now spread faster across Korea. Smart farming tools, greenhouse temperature control, and crop rotation strategies are becoming essential to protect harvests.
4. Adjusting Planting Calendars and Crop Varieties
Traditional planting schedules are no longer reliable. Farmers need climate-based planting calendars and must adopt heat-resistant or disease-resistant varieties. For example, new rice varieties like ‘Haedamssal’ or ‘Hi-Ami’ are bred for hot conditions and can stabilize yields despite climate fluctuations.
5. Policy and Tech Support for Farmers
Farmers can’t tackle climate change alone. Governments and agricultural institutions must provide real-time weather data, insurance programs, smart-farm technologies, and education workshops. Collaborations with tech companies can also help deliver adaptive tools and information to farmers quickly and efficiently.
Climate change is forcing a transformation in agriculture—but also offering an opportunity. With accurate data, resilient varieties, and systemic support, farming can become a sustainable pillar of society. Protecting agriculture means protecting the nation’s food and future.