Chinese atemoya producers could catch up to Taiwan’s yield and quality within two years, threatening Taitung County producers, Taitung County Councilor Huang Chih-wei (黃治維) said today.
Atemoya, also called pineapple custard apples, are a hybrid between cherimoya and sugar apples, notable for their pale green and bumpy skin.
Ninety percent of atemoya grown in Taiwan originates in Taitung County and the majority is exported to China.
Photo: Huang Ming-tang, Taipei Times
China has replicated Taitung’s planting technology in Hainan, Yunnan, Guangxi and Guangdong provinces, with China’s production now triple that of Taiwan and a farming area double the size, Huang said.
As quality improves, yield is increasing year-on-year, he said.
In the next two years, Chinese competitors could push out Taiwanese producers, he said, urging farmers to stop planting the crop and the Taitung County Government to take notice of the threat to local producers.
Taitung producers began exporting atemoya to China 10 years ago, with prices peaking at more than NT$100 per jin (600g).
Total farming area now exceeds 2,000 hectares and the fruit has become a vital part of the local economy, with farmers calling it “green gold.”
However, imports were suspended in September 2021, with Chinese customs officials citing “repeated discovery of agricultural pests” in Taiwanese shipments.
Imports resumed in 2023, but last year China imposed tariffs of 20 percent.
The local government had already taken into account the potential threat of Chinese atemoya production and is working to increase exports to Southeast Asia to diversify the market, Taitung County Agriculture Department Director Hsu Chia-hao (許家豪) said.
Taitung still produces the best-quality fruits due to optimal climate and soil conditions, and would be marketed to China as a high-end product, he said.
TRAFFIC SAFETY RULES: A positive result in a drug test would result in a two-year license suspension for the driver and vehicle, and a fine of up to NT$180,000 The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is to authorize police to conduct roadside saliva tests by the end of the year to deter people from driving while under the influence of narcotics, it said yesterday. The ministry last month unveiled a draft of amended regulations governing traffic safety rules and penalties, which included provisions empowering police to conduct mandatory saliva tests on drivers. While currently rules authorize police to use oral fluid testing kits for signs of drug use, they do not establish penalties for noncompliance or operating procedures for officers to follow, the ministry said. The proposed changes to the regulations require
The Executive Yuan yesterday announced that registration for a one-time universal NT$10,000 cash handout to help people in Taiwan survive US tariffs and inflation would start on Nov. 5, with payouts available as early as Nov. 12. Who is eligible for the handout? Registered Taiwanese nationals are eligible, including those born in Taiwan before April 30 next year with a birth certificate. Non-registered nationals with residence permits, foreign permanent residents and foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens with residence permits also qualify for the handouts. For people who meet the eligibility requirements, but passed away between yesterday and April 30 next year, surviving family members
Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung and Taoyuan would issue a decision at 8pm on whether to cancel work and school tomorrow due to forecasted heavy rain, Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) said today. Hsieh told reporters that absent some pressing reason, the four northern cities would announce the decision jointly at 8pm. Keelung is expected to receive between 300mm and 490mm of rain in the period from 2pm today through 2pm tomorrow, Central Weather Administration data showed. Keelung City Government regulations stipulate that school and work can be canceled if rain totals in mountainous or low-elevation areas are forecast to exceed 350mm in
China Airlines Ltd (CAL) yesterday morning joined SkyTeam’s Aviation Challenge for the fourth time, operating a demonstration flight for “net zero carbon emissions” from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Bangkok. The flight used sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a ratio of up to 40 percent, the highest proportion CAL has achieved to date, the nation’s largest carrier said. Since April, SAF has become available to Taiwanese international carriers at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport), Kaohsiung International Airport and Taoyuan airport. In previous challenges, CAL operated “net zero carbon emission flights” to Singapore and Japan. At a ceremony at Taoyuan airport, China Airlines chief sustainability
RSS