Fighting drought in the field

Gongguan Township in Miaoli is the only center of jujube production in Taiwan, covering more than 80 hectares. The harvesting season is in July, but abnormal weather in recent years has resulted in reduced rainfall, and this year has been no different.

Miaoli Community University’s Agricultural Volunteer Team has been trying to fight the drought by providing irrigation and pruning to keep the trees strong and avoid drought damage.

Farmers are often the first to feel the effects of abnormal weather and drought, and there is already a severe water shortage in Southern Taiwan. Everyone is pinning their hopes on the coming rainy season, praying for normal levels of rainfall to save the thirsty crops.

以下為中文對照

苗栗縣公館鄉是全台灣唯一的紅棗生產專區，面積達八十多公頃。每年七月是紅棗的採收季，不過近年來氣候異常，導致雨量稀少，今年又將進入乾旱的一年。

苗栗社大的農業故事志工隊成員，頂著烈日為乾渴已久的紅棗樹進行抗旱大作戰，趁著發芽前也修枝剪刺，希望紅棗樹頭好壯壯，不會被乾旱受到影響。

天候異常旱象頻傳，農夫往往是第一線體認最深刻的，台灣南部目前已經缺水嚴重，希望梅雨季可以有正常的雨量，解農作物之渴。