Natural disaster relief fails to keep up with climate change; Green Party legislators urge review of disaster relief regulations
DPP legislators held a press conference demanding a review of agricultural natural disaster relief regulations to include non-natural and composite agricultural damages caused by climate change.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 14:46
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 15:02 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 25, 2026 at 00:53 (9h 50m after Collected)
Central News Message
(CNA Reporter Lin Jing-yin, Taipei, 24th) Several Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators held a press conference today stating that, facing the intensifying impact of climate change, the types of agricultural disaster damage have shifted from single extreme weather events to multiple risks such as the spread of pests and diseases, and wildlife hazards. They demanded that the central government review the current agricultural natural disaster relief regulations to include non-natural disasters and composite agricultural damages in the assessment.
DPP legislators Lai Hui-yuan, Chung Chia-pin, Chen Su-yueh, Tsai Yi-yu, and Hsu Fu-kuei held a press conference titled "Ministry of Agriculture Should Re-evaluate Natural Disaster Relief Certification Standards" at the Legislative Yuan this morning.
Lai Hui-yuan stated that non-natural disasters such as viral diseases and monkey damage can no longer be eradicated solely through technical guidance. The natural disaster relief system absolutely cannot be limited to traditional natural disasters. The government should promptly review the agricultural natural disaster relief regulations and related operational guidelines, and include composite agricultural damages induced by environmental conditions in the assessment. Until the system is changed, assistance should be provided on a project-by-project basis.
Chung Chia-pin pointed out that in addition to a comprehensive review of the natural disaster relief regulations, the current certification standards for agricultural damage surveys should shift from single causation to environmental correlation. Secondly, agricultural policy units should not overlook that the relief regulations are merely a subsidy; the fundamental core should be through agricultural insurance. By arranging the climate change disaster losses borne by farmers through financial systems, the damages will not have to be shouldered entirely by the farmers. This requires extreme climate data to be paired with agricultural damage loss rate data, allowing agricultural insurance to operate in tandem with the relief system to help farmers overcome difficulties.
Hsu Fu-kuei stated that the current extreme climate threats are a massive challenge for farmers, and an even more severe issue is macaques; there are even Formosan sika deer on the Hengchun Peninsula, and recently, more disastrously, green iguanas, which are impossible to catch completely. The Ministry of Agriculture should provide a positive response to the disaster damages caused by green iguanas. Furthermore, a type of mite infestation has been discovered in the papaya industry in Pingtung. Facing new types of pests and diseases, the Ministry of Agriculture should have proactive handling measures.
Chen Li-yi, Chief Secretary of the Agriculture and Food Agency, said that extreme weather has a significant impact on Taiwan's agriculture. In the past, the subsidy for facilities was 50%, but a typhoon last year blew down almost all facilities, so the subsidy was raised to 80%. This is one of the methods to combat extreme weather. As for the pest and disease issues caused by natural disasters, Minister of Agriculture Chen Jun-ji will convene a meeting to discuss them.
Chen Yi-jen, Director of the Department of Farmers' Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, said that the Ministry of Agriculture is making rolling revisions to the natural disaster relief regulations. If pests and diseases are caused by extreme weather and natural disasters, as long as it is not due to farmers' negligence in prevention or management, the Ministry is authorized to convene expert meetings for substantive certification.
Regarding the legislators' suggestion to revise the relief application forms, Chen Yi-jen stated that the Ministry of Agriculture will include this in its review so that the relief speed can be faster. The loan quota has also been increased this year, and issues such as the simplification of the disaster survey system for damage certification will be included in the revision of the disaster relief regulations by the Ministry of Agriculture. (Editor: Lin Ke-lun) 1150424
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(CNA Reporter Lin Jing-yin, Taipei, 24th) Several Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators held a press conference today stating that, facing the intensifying impact of climate change, the types of agricultural disaster damage have shifted from single extreme weather events to multiple risks such as the spread of pests and diseases, and wildlife hazards. They demanded that the central government review the current agricultural natural disaster relief regulations to include non-natural disasters and composite agricultural damages in the assessment.
DPP legislators Lai Hui-yuan, Chung Chia-pin, Chen Su-yueh, Tsai Yi-yu, and Hsu Fu-kuei held a press conference titled "Ministry of Agriculture Should Re-evaluate Natural Disaster Relief Certification Standards" at the Legislative Yuan this morning.
Lai Hui-yuan stated that non-natural disasters such as viral diseases and monkey damage can no longer be eradicated solely through technical guidance. The natural disaster relief system absolutely cannot be limited to traditional natural disasters. The government should promptly review the agricultural natural disaster relief regulations and related operational guidelines, and include composite agricultural damages induced by environmental conditions in the assessment. Until the system is changed, assistance should be provided on a project-by-project basis.
Chung Chia-pin pointed out that in addition to a comprehensive review of the natural disaster relief regulations, the current certification standards for agricultural damage surveys should shift from single causation to environmental correlation. Secondly, agricultural policy units should not overlook that the relief regulations are merely a subsidy; the fundamental core should be through agricultural insurance. By arranging the climate change disaster losses borne by farmers through financial systems, the damages will not have to be shouldered entirely by the farmers. This requires extreme climate data to be paired with agricultural damage loss rate data, allowing agricultural insurance to operate in tandem with the relief system to help farmers overcome difficulties.
Hsu Fu-kuei stated that the current extreme climate threats are a massive challenge for farmers, and an even more severe issue is macaques; there are even Formosan sika deer on the Hengchun Peninsula, and recently, more disastrously, green iguanas, which are impossible to catch completely. The Ministry of Agriculture should provide a positive response to the disaster damages caused by green iguanas. Furthermore, a type of mite infestation has been discovered in the papaya industry in Pingtung. Facing new types of pests and diseases, the Ministry of Agriculture should have proactive handling measures.
Chen Li-yi, Chief Secretary of the Agriculture and Food Agency, said that extreme weather has a significant impact on Taiwan's agriculture. In the past, the subsidy for facilities was 50%, but a typhoon last year blew down almost all facilities, so the subsidy was raised to 80%. This is one of the methods to combat extreme weather. As for the pest and disease issues caused by natural disasters, Minister of Agriculture Chen Jun-ji will convene a meeting to discuss them.
Chen Yi-jen, Director of the Department of Farmers' Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, said that the Ministry of Agriculture is making rolling revisions to the natural disaster relief regulations. If pests and diseases are caused by extreme weather and natural disasters, as long as it is not due to farmers' negligence in prevention or management, the Ministry is authorized to convene expert meetings for substantive certification.
Regarding the legislators' suggestion to revise the relief application forms, Chen Yi-jen stated that the Ministry of Agriculture will include this in its review so that the relief speed can be faster. The loan quota has also been increased this year, and issues such as the simplification of the disaster survey system for damage certification will be included in the revision of the disaster relief regulations by the Ministry of Agriculture. (Editor: Lin Ke-lun) 1150424
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The text, images, and audio/video on this website are not to be reproduced, broadcast publicly, transmitted publicly, or utilized without authorization.