Yizhu Sorghum, Hard Corn Heavily Damaged by Downpours; Authorities to Assess Latest Disaster Situation for Relief

Torrential rains and persistent plum rain fronts have devastated sorghum and hard corn crops in Yizhu Township, Chiayi County. Following an initial assessment that did not meet disaster relief criteria, the county government is now re-evaluating the situation due to further heavy rainfall exceeding 240 millimeters in two days.

Yizhu is a primary production area for hard corn in Taiwan, with 57 hectares planted this season. Sorghum, a crop recently promoted in the area, covers 170.67 hectares, largely under contract with Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor. Farmers had hoped for rain to plump the sorghum grains after a dry spell, but the continuous downpours led to "sprouting in the ear" and significant crop loss.

Local officials, including Yizhu Township Mayor Huang Cheng-chieh and County Councilor Weng Tsung-hsien, participated in recent damage assessments. They noted that sorghum suffered from prolonged exposure to moisture, causing sprouting, while hard corn fields were severely waterlogged, leading to plant death and failure to produce yield. The township office is assisting farmers in applying for disaster relief and subsidies.

The Chiayi County Agriculture Department reported that 18 hectares of hard corn in low-lying areas experienced wilting due to poor drainage, with a 20% damage rate. Sorghum crops also showed a 20% damage rate across 50 hectares due to sprouting. While the sorghum damage met the criteria for cash relief and low-interest loans, the hard corn situation requires further assessment following the recent rains.