In March, the townships of Yuli and Zhouxi in Hualien, Taiwan, faced lower temperatures, impacting mango orchards by reducing flower production. This led to diminished pollination rates, causing either malformed mangoes or a complete lack of fruit. In response, the Hualien County Government sought financial aid from the Ministry of Agriculture to support affected mango growers. An announcement made on May 7 indicated that financial assistance of up to NT$100,000 (US$3,000) per hectare would be available for the farmers in distress.
Starting May 8 through May 17, mango farmers in Hualien can apply for this financial assistance or for low-interest loans at their local district offices, as reported by CNA. Chen Shu-wen, the Director of Hualien County Agriculture Department, emphasized the importance of adhering to the regulations governing natural disaster relief assistance, including the stipulation in Article 5 of the Agricultural Development Act. This act requires that applicants must be engaged in agricultural production and have experienced losses exceeding 20% to qualify for aid, with eligibility for disaster assistance limited to once per calendar year. The timing is critical, as the mango harvest season begins in May, and many farmers are facing the prospect of significant financial losses due to poor yields.
Source: taiwannews.com.tw