Ma Myung-sun had low expectations for the subtropical bananas he planted in a community farm in Seoul.
马明善对他在首尔一个社区农场种植的亚热带香蕉期望不高。
He must use a greenhouse for part of the year to protect them from South Korea's cold winters.
他必须在一年中的部分时间使用温室来保护它们免受韩国寒冬的影响。
But warmer temperatures due to climate change have produced a welcome surprise in the form of flowers and fruit.
但是,气候变化导致的气温升高却带来了花果飘香的惊喜。
The land area where subtropical crops are grown in South Korea has increased from about 295 hectares in 2021 to 3,306 hectares in 2023.
韩国亚热带作物种植面积从2021年的约295公顷增加到2023年的3306公顷。
South Korea’s state agricultural organization, the Rural Development Administration, reports that there are 67 banana farms in the south.
韩国国家农业组织,农村发展管理局报告说,在南部有67个香蕉农场。
And Ma is among a growing number of farmers experimenting with crops usually grown in a warmer climate.
越来越多农民开始尝试种植通常在温暖气候下生长的作物。马明善就是其中之一。
"I want to try growing other tropical crops too. So, as you can see here, I have planted these papaya trees as well,” Ma said, pointing to a small papaya plant.
“我也想尝试种植其他热带作物,所以,正如你所见,我也种了这些木瓜树,”马指着一棵小木瓜树说道。
Ma opened up part of his family’s farm to people from the city in 2006. He is happy about his small success.
马在2006年向城市居民开放了他家农场的一部分,并且对自己的小成就感到高兴。
But he worries about what it means for the climate. "I feel that the climate crisis has become very serious," said Ma, who has been a farmer for 25 years.
但是他担心这对气候意味着什么。马提到:“我感觉气候危机已经变得非常严重了。”他已经当了25年的农民。
South Korea lies in the temperate zone and has four seasons. But its climate appears to be getting warmer and wetter throughout the year.
韩国位于温带,有四季之分。但是,它的气候似乎全年都在变得更加温暖和潮湿。
The Korea Meteorological Administration reports that since 2012, the average yearly temperature has been continually rising.
韩国气象局报告称,自2012年以来,年平均气温一直在持续上升。
The average temperature last year of 13.7 degrees Celsius was the highest since its records began in 1973.
去年的平均气温为13.7摄氏度,是自1973年有记录以来的最高值。
Rainfall during last year's rainy season was 660.2 mm nationwide, nearly two times the 356.7 mm annual average figure.
去年雨季期间,全国降雨量为660.2毫米,几乎是356.7毫米年平均降雨量的两倍。
Kim Kwang-soo is a professor of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Seoul National University.
金广秀是首尔国立大学农业与生命科学教授。
Kim said South Korea's climate conditions were becoming more like subtropical areas, so it is important for farmers to find the right crop varieties for the climate.
金表示,韩国的气候条件变得越来越像亚热带地区,因此农民找到适合气候的作物品种非常重要。
Tropical and subtropical fruit are usually expensive in South Korea, so shoppers should welcome the less costly local produce.
在韩国,热带和亚热带水果通常价格昂贵,因此购物者应该欢迎价格较低的本地产品。
"My kids love bananas. So, it would be good if we harvest bananas in this country," said Kim Ji-youn, who was purchasing imported bananas in a Seoul supermarket.
“我的孩子们喜欢香蕉。 “所以,如果我们本国拥有香蕉,那将是件好事,”在首尔一家超市购买进口香蕉的金智媛说道。
I’m Jill Robbins.
我是吉尔·罗宾斯。