Taitung County, known for abundant custard apple harvests, faces challenges this season despite the resumption of exports to China.
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Taitung County is known for its abundant harvests of custard apples. However, farmers have faced multiple setbacks this season with widespread thefts in their orchards as well as pest-related export hurdles. One grower says that out of four thousand custard apples, he only has three of four hundred left to pick. Due to this, he has even considered sleeping in his fields.
Farmers celebrated the resumption of exports to China earlier this month after a two-year Chinese government ban on the import of Taiwanese custard apples was lifted. However, within a week, the discovery of pests called scale insects in a shipment has led to failed inspections and subsequent export restrictions.
Taitung County officials responded promptly by temporarily banning 29 farmers from exporting to China for 10 days.
Taitung County Magistrate Jao Ching-ling (饒慶鈴) says the county government plans to enhance communication with packaging facilities slated for upcoming shipments to prevent reoccurrences. Jao also emphasizes the importance of the central government’s involvement in strengthening quarantine measures to assist the county government and farmers in fortifying the initial line of defense against pests.
Thirty-seven registered packing factories will be strictly inspected by the Taitung County government. However, some experts say that the Chinese government will have the final say on whether shipments pass inspection or not. The hope remains that stricter oversight will help reduce losses and protect local farmers.