Ma Myung-sun had low expectations for the subtropical bananas he planted in a community farm in Seoul. He must use a greenhouse for part of the year to protect them from South Korea's cold winters. But warmer temperatures due to climate change have produced a welcome surprise in the form of flowers and fruit.

马明善对自己在首尔一个社区农场种植的亚热带香蕉期望不高。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。但气候变化导致的气温升高带来了花果飘香的惊喜好事。
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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. South Korea's state agricultural organization, the Rural Development Administration, reports that there are 67 banana farms in the south. And Ma is among a growing number of farmers experimenting with crops usually grown in a warmer climate.

韩国的亚热带作物种植面积从2021年的295公顷增加到2023年的3306公顷。韩国国家农业组织农村振兴厅报告称，韩国南部有67个香蕉农场。越来越多的农民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. Ma opened up part of his family's farm to people from the city in 2006. He is happy about his small success. 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.

“我也想尝试种植其他热带作物。所以，正如你在这里看到的，我也种了这些木瓜树，”马明善指着一棵小木瓜树说道。2006年，马明善向城里人开放了自家农场的一部分。他对自己的小小成功感到高兴。但他担心这对气候意味着什么。“我觉得气候危机已经变得非常严重了，”已经当了25年农民的马明善说道。

The Korea Meteorological Administration reports that since 2012, the average yearly temperature has been continually rising. The average temperature last year of 13.7 degrees Celsius was the highest since its records began in 1973. Rainfall during last year's rainy season was 660.2 mm nationwide, nearly two times the 356.7 mm annual average figure.

韩国气象厅报告称，自2012年以来，年平均气温持续上升。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气温。去年雨季期间，全国降雨量为660.2毫米，几乎是年平均降雨量356.7毫米的两倍。

Kim Kwang-soo is a professor of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Seoul National University. Kim said bananas are usually grown in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, while Korea is located in a temperate zone with four distinct seasons. However, since 2012, the average annual temperature in South Korea has experienced a continuous warming trend, and the climate seems to be getting hotter and wetter throughout the year, creating near-perfect conditions for growing bananas. He believes that this means that Korea's climate conditions are becoming similar to those of subtropical regions, so it is necessary to develop crops suitable for the new temperature environment, and points out that this is also a way to combat climate change.

金光秀是首尔国立大学农业和生命科学教授。金光秀说，香蕉通常生长在世界热带和亚热带地区，而韩国地处温带，四季分明。然而，自2012年以来，韩国的年平均气温经历了持续变暖的趋势，全年气候似乎都在变得更热、更湿，这为种植香蕉创造了近乎完美的条件。他认为这意味着韩国的气候条件正变得与亚热带地区相似，因此应开发适合新温度环境的作物，并指出这也是应对气候变化的方法。

Currently, the area under cultivation in South Korea, including subtropical crops such as bananas, has jumped from about 295 hectares in 2021 to more than 3,000 hectares in 2023. In Korea, where tropical and subtropical fruits are more expensive, consumers should be happy to accept cheaper local produce if they can be grown domestically.

目前，韩国包括香蕉等亚热带作物的种植面积，已从2021年约295公顷跃升至2023年的3000多公顷。在韩国，热带和亚热带水果价格较高，如果能在国内种植，消费者应该会乐于接受价格更便宜的本地产物。

"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，如果我们本国就能收获香蕉，那将是件好事，”在首尔一家超市购买进口香蕉的金志映说道。

Bananas, one of the most popular fruits in South Korea, have been the most popular fruit in South Korea for three consecutive years, and the current price is between 2,490 and 5,490 won, equivalent to about 13-29 yuan. Sometimes when there are special offers, the price will be cheaper.

香蕉，是韩国人最喜爱的水果之一，曾在韩国连续三年蝉联最受欢迎的水果，目前价格在2490-5490韩币之间，折合人民币大约13-29元。有时遇到特惠活动，价格会更便宜。