HAPCHEON — South Gyeongsang Province said it will press ahead with building a smart pig farming complex and with livestock breeding programs in response to climate change and rising feed costs. The province held the 12th Gyeongnam Livestock Love Festival on the 14th at the Hapcheon County Citizens Sports Park, with about 1,000 people attending, including livestock farmers, industry groups and local residents.
"The livestock industry accounts for a large share of agricultural, forestry and fisheries output and contributes to the healthy lives of the public, making it an important industry," South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su said. "We are working to ensure the livestock industry can develop into one that is sustainable and in harmony with the environment, in response to climate change, rising feed costs and environmental regulations." Park added that the province will "continue to pursue projects for building a smart pig farming complex, improving livestock breeding and upgrading the livestock environment."
Park also said, "I offer my respect and gratitude to all livestock farmers who worked hard to supply safe and healthy livestock products even under the difficult conditions of alternating heat waves and heavy rains this summer."
The Korea Racing Authority's Yeongnam Regional Headquarters took part in the event for the first time this year, donating 50 million won (about $35,000). The money will be used to supply livestock products from the province to social welfare facilities through the Community Chest of Korea's South Gyeongsang branch.
At the event, 10 people who contributed to the development of the province's livestock industry received governor's commendations. The program continued with a ceremony to hand over donated local livestock products, tasting and discount sales events by livestock type, livestock industry promotional exhibits, and a gathering for livestock farmers. Park visited promotional booths for each type of livestock — Korean beef cattle, pork, dairy, beekeeping, laying hens and ducks — to hear from farmers.
The event was hosted by South Gyeongsang Province and Hapcheon County and organized by the Gyeongnam Livestock Organizations Council and the South Gyeongsang branch of Nonghyup. Attendees included Hapcheon County Mayor Kim Yun-cheol, Lee Kyung-jae, chairman of the South Gyeongsang Provincial Council's Agriculture, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Committee, Ryu Gil-nyeon, head of the South Gyeongsang branch of Nonghyup, and Jang Yu-jin, head of the Korea Racing Authority's Yeongnam Regional Headquarters.
Now in its 12th year, the event rotates among cities and counties in the province to promote unity among livestock farmers and boost consumption of local livestock products. This year's theme is "Livestock Running Together With Residents, Gyeongnam Leaping Forward."