Chiayi farmers encouraged to grow rice plants despite drought

The decision runs counter to the central government's move to encourage farmers to have their farmland lie fallow amid the drought by compensating them for their losses.

Chang said that her county government will give a subsidy of NT$1,000 to farmers for around 300 pings (one ping=36 square feet), equivalent to one tenth of a hectare if they grow rice plants as usual. So far, around 10 townships in Chiayi County have been requested by the agricultural authorities to let their farmlands lie fallow.

In response, Magistrate Chang criticized the central government's decision to encourage a spring fallow as too reckless, as the decision will undermine the rice production chains, leading to the suspension of the supply of renowned organic rice by farmers in Taibao Township, and the suspension of relevant upstream and downstream operations, such as fertilizer sales and rice polishing. But quite a few farmers prefer a positive response to the central government's fallow policy, because they can receive much higher subsidy of NT$8,000 per 0.1 hectare of farmland.

Accordingly, Chang said it will be up to the farmers to determine whether or not to grow rice plants this spring.

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