돼지·닭 가축 폭염피해 보험접수, 두달새 2천건 ‘훌쩍’

Over the summer, record-breaking heatwaves caused an increase in livestock heatstroke insurance claims. According to NH Insurance, between July 7 and the end of August, 2,135 livestock heatstroke claims were filed. Ninety-nine percent of these claims, 2,115, were concentrated in July and August. Livestock insurance compensates for various losses that farmers can incur due to natural disasters like heatwaves, winds, blizzards, earthquakes, fires, and animal diseases.

The government provides half of the insurance premiums through agricultural social safety insurance, with NH Insurance holding a 98% market share. This year, 1,628 claims were made for pigs, and 507 for chickens, both of which are included in the livestock heatstroke insurance. While livestock insurance covers various types of livestock, the heatstroke insurance specifically applies to pigs and chickens.

Cows are relatively resistant to heatwaves and cold, while pigs have limited ability to dissipate heat due to their thick layer of fat, and chickens are vulnerable due to their inability to sweat and the crowded conditions of intensive farming. As climate change intensifies, the number of heatwaves is increasing each year, causing annual insurance payouts to nearly triple over the past three years.

From 76.4 billion won in 2022 to 107.3 billion won in 2023, 229.6 billion won in 2024, and 297.2 billion won in 2023, the annual payouts have steadily increased. Over the past three years, the number of new insurance applicants has approached 4 million annually, close to the three-year average of 4.26 million.