Wildfires hit key crops in South Korea

South Korea’s government is closely tracking agricultural supply and prices following massive wildfires in North Gyeongsang Province, which have destroyed over 38,000 hectares of woodland and impacted key crops like garlic, apples, chili peppers, and pine mushrooms.

First Vice Finance Minister Kim Beom-suk called for swift action to protect the local farmers and to ensure stable supply of affected products. The move comes as inflation pressure remains, with vegetables like cabbage and radish still costly despite a recent slowdown in food price increases.

South Korea’s consumer inflation held at around 2% for a second straight month in February, with the weak won adding pressure through higher import costs.

source: en.yna.co.kr

photo: theguardian.com