Chinese atemoya growers might align their yield and quality with Taiwan's within two years, potentially impacting Taitung County producers, according to Taipei Times, citing Taitung County Councilor Huang Chih-Wei.
Atemoya, known as pineapple custard apples, are a cherimoya and sugar apple hybrid. Taitung County accounts for about 90% of Taiwan's atemoya cultivation, primarily exported to China, as per Taipei Times.
China has implemented Taitung's cultivation methods in Hainan, Yunnan, Guangxi, and Guangdong provinces, resulting in production surpassing Taiwan's threefold, with twice the farming area, Huang noted. He stated that as Chinese atemoya quality advances, their yield increases annually.
The Taipei Times report highlighted that within two years, Chinese competition might eclipse Taiwanese farmers, leading Huang to advise local growers to stop planting and alert the Taitung County Government to domestic producer risks.
Taiwanese farmers began exporting atemoya to China a decade ago, with prices peaking over the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) 100 per jin (USD 3.17 per 600g). The cultivation area now exceeds 2,000 hectares, and the fruit is integral to the local economy.
Imports were suspended in September 2021 due to "repeated discovery of agricultural pests" in shipments from Taiwan but resumed in 2023, with a 20% tariff imposed by China last year.
The local government recognizes the threat from Chinese production and is working to expand export opportunities to Southeast Asia, commented Taitung County Agriculture Department Director Hsu Chia-hao, as reported by Taipei Times.
Hsu stated that Taitung still produces top-quality fruits due to its climate and soil, which could be marketed as premium products in China, according to the Taipei Times report.
Source: ANI