Warm winter and dry farming suffer! 70% of the litchi blossoms were damaged, and the damage of the litchi stink bug intensified, and the Council of Agriculture started the subsidy.

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Drought affects hillside crops, and injured fields can apply for subsidies from relevant agricultural administration units! Since November last year, there has been insufficient rainfall and frequent droughts. Crops in the central and southern regions, including Gaojie pears, plums, peaches, plums, loquats, litchi and tea trees, have been affected. The Council of Agriculture held a press conference today (26) to explain the current situation of drought affecting crops and the corresponding actions, including "subsidies for natural disasters", "subsidies for waterway irrigation facilities", and "field technical management guidance". Farmers can apply for cash subsidies or equipment upgrading subsidies.

Dai Shunfa, director of the improvement field in Kaohsiung, photo by Duan Yaxin

Water shortage affects pollination and fruit size of loquat.

Gaojie pear and loquat are currently determined to be affected by drought. Zhan Guirong, head of the mountain pig loquat in Taichung News Agency, said that loquat was indeed affected. She said that drought will affect the humidity in the air, stamens must maintain a certain amount of moisture in order to successfully pollinate pollen on it, and poor pollination means a decline in flowering and fruiting. "or, bear fruit, but the fruit becomes smaller." She revealed that the recent lack of water and dryness did greatly affect the growth of loquat.

She further explains that it is usually the water from the mountain forest to maintain the moisture of the fruit trees, and recently there has been little rainfall, so they can only pick up water from the White Cold Town of the Xinhua News Agency to irrigate the fruit trees. As for the fact that the Council of Agriculture hopes to expand crop irrigation areas in Taiwan and bring many hillside crops into the water conservancy irrigation system, she says that although drought-related subsidies and guidance have not yet been received, if the government can really do something to help farmers, I'm sure I'll be happy to see it succeed.

High-contact pear farmers suggest that the government subsidize hillside irrigation equipment.

Dongshigao pear growers said that the warm winter climate this year is good for the grafting of high-grafted pears, but the drought has affected the follow-up growth of high-grafted pears. He explained that it takes nearly a month from grafting to flowering, and a warm climate is needed for fruit trees to activate and grow. Although temperature conditions are available, nutrition transport needs to pass through water, and the lack of water will affect the size of the pear. In the face of drought, he also suggested that government subsidies for irrigation equipment for hillside crops would be a more permanent solution, such as setting up large storage tanks in sloping fruit fields to facilitate farmers' access to them, and to regulate water use in times of water shortage.

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