Farmers request help after Yunlin garlic crop hit by pest infestation
Farmers request help after Yunlin garlic crop hit by pest infestation
2026-03-16
It’s almost harvest season for garlic, the most anticipated time of year for many farmers. But in Yunlin County, there isn’t much to smile about this year. During the crucial bulb formation stage, the crop was hit by garlic blight, keeping the bulbs from fully forming and reducing yield by a half. Farmers believe it was due to a pest infestation. Local representatives went to investigate, and hope the central government will assist with pest prevention. They’re also asking the government to consider purchasing the harvest at a fixed price to help farmers maintain their livelihood.
These tracts of garlic fields in Tuku Township should be a vibrant green, but not this year. Instead, the ailing plants look yellow and withered. It’s almost harvest season for garlic here in Yunlin, but the plants were hit by blight. The bulbs aren’t as big as they should be, worrying farmers.
I’ve worked hard all my life, and now that I want to reap the rewards, I can’t.
After a half year of hard work, it looks like the harvest will be significantly reduced. Yunlin produces the most garlic in all of Taiwan. But during the crucial bulb formation period, the crop was hit by an infestation, causing yield to fall by half.
We can harvest, but the bulbs are small. Prices are also low this year. We need a set price.
We took such good care of it, just to get this infestation. We sprayed pesticide once a week, but it was no use.
Initial investigations indicate that spider mites, also called red ants, as well as thrips are to blame. They eat the liquid from inside garlic leaves, preventing the plant from photosynthesizing properly and stunting bulb growth. Add to that fluctuating temperatures and non-ideal rainfall, and they’re more susceptible to infestation.
Chen Chien-tang
Yunlin Animal Disease Control Center technician
At the moment, we’ve only received reports from Tuku. An investigation is underway to see whether other areas are affected. We have a “plant doctor” system in place. We’ll ask the expert to help us determine whether to use pesticides or physical control methods.
Farmers have asked the authorities to come investigate. Besides helping get the infestation under control, they hope the central government will consider purchasing the crop at a set price to safeguard their basic income.
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#garlic #farmers #agriculture #Yunlin #infestation #blight #crop #harvest
心酸! 蒜頭"結球期"遇蟲害 雲林蒜農收成恐減半
2026-03-16
蒜頭準備採收，本該是農民最期待的時刻，但今年雲林縣不少蒜農卻笑不出來。正值蒜頭"結球"關鍵期，蒜田枯黃，蒜球長不大、產量剩過去一半。初步研判與病蟲害有關，地方民代到場會勘，希望中央除了提供防治協助外，還能評估保價收購，別讓農民一年心血付諸流水。
放眼望去，土庫的蒜田本該是綠油油，現在卻是枯黃一片。雲林縣蒜頭進入採收期，但蒜葉卻枯黃，結出來的蒜球長不大，農民苦不堪言。
“一輩子都很辛苦，現在想要(採)收，卻無法(採)收”
辛苦大半年，收成恐怕大打折，農民不捨流下眼淚。雲林縣是全國最大蒜頭產地，偏偏正值蒜頭"結球"關鍵期，卻遇病蟲害，蒜球長不大，只剩原本一半大小。
“可以採收但結球很小，今年蒜價又便宜，一定賠”
“認真顧成這樣，又得到(病蟲害) ，一個禮拜灑(農藥)一次，但也沒用”
初步研判，兇手是俗稱紅蜘蛛的葉蟎，以及薊馬。牠們吸食蒜葉汁液，導致蒜株無法正常行光合作用，蒜球自然長不胖。再加上近期天氣忽冷忽熱、降雨影響，蟲害更容易爆發。
[[雲林縣政府動植物防疫所技正 陳建棠]]
“目前只有接獲土庫部分的反應，那各鄉鎮是不是有類似狀況，現在已經有在協同調查，目前有植(物)醫(生)制度，那我們會請植(物)醫(生)部分去協助，看是用藥還是，做一些物理性的防治”
地方民代邀集相關單位到場會勘，希望中央，除了協助農民防治蟲害外，也能評估即時啟動保價收購機制，保障農民基本收益。
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