Kaohsiung DARES Promotes Smart Papaya Irrigation and Mite Control, Expected to Increase Yield by 20%
The Kaohsiung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (DARES) is promoting smart irrigation and mite control technologies for papaya, which are expected to increase harvest yields by approximately 20%. This integrated approach reduces water usage by over 25% and effectively controls red spider mite populations.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 20:39
- 🔍 Collected: April 21, 2026 at 21:02 (22 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 00:56 (3h 53m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Wang Shu-fen, Taipei, 21st) Papaya is an important tropical fruit tree in Taiwan, and water management and red spider mite (leaf mite) infestation often trouble fruit farmers. The Kaohsiung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (DARES) of the Ministry of Agriculture is promoting smart papaya irrigation and mite control technologies, and farmers who adopt them are estimated to increase their harvest by about 20%.
Kaohsiung DARES held a press conference today at the Ministry of Agriculture, introducing the successfully developed "Smart Papaya Irrigation Model" combined with "Field Spray Mite Control Technology." Through precise water management and environmentally friendly physical control, it not only saves over 25% of water but also effectively controls mite populations.
Lo Cheng-chung, head of Kaohsiung DARES, said that papaya trees have large leaf areas and high photosynthetic efficiency, requiring sufficient water to maintain productivity. In the past, farmers mostly relied on experience for irrigation, which easily led to imbalanced water supply and demand under extreme climates.
Lo Cheng-chung said that the research team at Kaohsiung DARES applied the "Reference Evapotranspiration (ETo)" parameter to precisely calculate the optimal water demand for papaya at each growth stage. While ensuring normal plant growth, the water demand can be adjusted from 160% ETo down to 120% ETo; even during the dry season, irrigating with 80% ETo water does not affect yield and quality.
Lo Cheng-chung introduced this technology, which utilizes field weather stations to collect meteorological factors related to water use, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure, to calculate the ETo parameter. He said that compared to soil moisture meters which only measure soil moisture at a single point, this is more suitable as an irrigation reference for orchards, and combined with smart irrigation controllers and drip irrigation systems, it achieves the goal of "using as much water as is replenished," making it currently the most water-saving irrigation method for papaya cultivation.
In addition to water scarcity, Lo Cheng-chung said that leaf mites, which are common during dry and high-temperature seasons, are killers of papaya yield. Traditional control methods often rely on chemical agents, which easily lead to resistance. The "Smart Spray Technology" developed by Kaohsiung DARES uses sensors to monitor environmental humidity, automatically spraying when relative humidity is below 80% to increase orchard humidity and inhibit mite reproduction. It was found that spraying for control between 8 and 9 AM daily achieved the best effect, reducing mite population density by 80%, and also did not increase the risk of papaya brown spot disease or phytophthora disease, demonstrating significant advantages in environmental friendliness and precise management.
Lo Cheng-chung stated that the current construction cost for this smart cultivation system is approximately NT$368,000 per hectare. Demonstration sites have been established in Shuishang, Chiayi; Guiren, Tainan; and Changzhi, Pingtung. By integrating weather station data and automated operation of irrigation controllers, farmers can remotely monitor orchard conditions via mobile phones, significantly reducing labor costs and stabilizing papaya production and increasing income.
Chen Wen-yi, nicknamed "Papaya Dad," who grows over 10 hectares of papaya, attended the press conference and confirmed his experience with smart irrigation and mite control technology. He stated that he can precisely know how much water to irrigate, effectively reduce leaf mites, and more importantly, use much less pesticide. He estimated that one hectare can save NT$300,000 to NT$400,000 annually, and papaya yield can increase by over 20%. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150421
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "Firsthand News" app to stay updated instantly.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, or transmitted publicly without authorization.
(Central News Agency reporter Wang Shu-fen, Taipei, 21st) Papaya is an important tropical fruit tree in Taiwan, and water management and red spider mite (leaf mite) infestation often trouble fruit farmers. The Kaohsiung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (DARES) of the Ministry of Agriculture is promoting smart papaya irrigation and mite control technologies, and farmers who adopt them are estimated to increase their harvest by about 20%.
Kaohsiung DARES held a press conference today at the Ministry of Agriculture, introducing the successfully developed "Smart Papaya Irrigation Model" combined with "Field Spray Mite Control Technology." Through precise water management and environmentally friendly physical control, it not only saves over 25% of water but also effectively controls mite populations.
Lo Cheng-chung, head of Kaohsiung DARES, said that papaya trees have large leaf areas and high photosynthetic efficiency, requiring sufficient water to maintain productivity. In the past, farmers mostly relied on experience for irrigation, which easily led to imbalanced water supply and demand under extreme climates.
Lo Cheng-chung said that the research team at Kaohsiung DARES applied the "Reference Evapotranspiration (ETo)" parameter to precisely calculate the optimal water demand for papaya at each growth stage. While ensuring normal plant growth, the water demand can be adjusted from 160% ETo down to 120% ETo; even during the dry season, irrigating with 80% ETo water does not affect yield and quality.
Lo Cheng-chung introduced this technology, which utilizes field weather stations to collect meteorological factors related to water use, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure, to calculate the ETo parameter. He said that compared to soil moisture meters which only measure soil moisture at a single point, this is more suitable as an irrigation reference for orchards, and combined with smart irrigation controllers and drip irrigation systems, it achieves the goal of "using as much water as is replenished," making it currently the most water-saving irrigation method for papaya cultivation.
In addition to water scarcity, Lo Cheng-chung said that leaf mites, which are common during dry and high-temperature seasons, are killers of papaya yield. Traditional control methods often rely on chemical agents, which easily lead to resistance. The "Smart Spray Technology" developed by Kaohsiung DARES uses sensors to monitor environmental humidity, automatically spraying when relative humidity is below 80% to increase orchard humidity and inhibit mite reproduction. It was found that spraying for control between 8 and 9 AM daily achieved the best effect, reducing mite population density by 80%, and also did not increase the risk of papaya brown spot disease or phytophthora disease, demonstrating significant advantages in environmental friendliness and precise management.
Lo Cheng-chung stated that the current construction cost for this smart cultivation system is approximately NT$368,000 per hectare. Demonstration sites have been established in Shuishang, Chiayi; Guiren, Tainan; and Changzhi, Pingtung. By integrating weather station data and automated operation of irrigation controllers, farmers can remotely monitor orchard conditions via mobile phones, significantly reducing labor costs and stabilizing papaya production and increasing income.
Chen Wen-yi, nicknamed "Papaya Dad," who grows over 10 hectares of papaya, attended the press conference and confirmed his experience with smart irrigation and mite control technology. He stated that he can precisely know how much water to irrigate, effectively reduce leaf mites, and more importantly, use much less pesticide. He estimated that one hectare can save NT$300,000 to NT$400,000 annually, and papaya yield can increase by over 20%. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150421
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "Firsthand News" app to stay updated instantly.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, or transmitted publicly without authorization.