The Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (TTDARES) of the Executive Yuan’s Council of Agriculture held its annual Experimental Demonstration Field Evaluation on May 14 and 15. TTDARES Director Chen Hsin-yen led the event, which was an on-site evaluation of all the TTDARES specialized laboratories and experimental demonstration fields both on and off TTDARES premises. Those present included leaders from various agencies, research lab heads, and researchers. Evaluated areas on the premises included the flower greenhouse, agricultural machinery lab, and experimental fields for rice and vegetables. Evaluated areas off the premises included evaluations of the experimental research sites for organic millet growing and product value enhancement, Sclerospora graminicola (which causes downy mildew) prevention for millet, healthy fruit set and pest prevention management for sugar apples, nighttime energy-efficient lighting for atemoyas, organic disease resistance and good harvest management for rice, rice blast prevention, regional experiments for new millet varieties, and general management techniques for major rice diseases in the towns and townships of Taimali, Jinfeng, Daren, Chishang, Guanshan, Haiduan, Luye, and Beinan.

Director Chen expressed hopes that the researchers would continue to have fruitful results. Taitung is a great place as it is filled with indigenous cultures and the particular features of each. It’s a place that’s perfect for developing organic farming and special crops. Moreover, the sales volume of atemoyas to other regions has been breaking records every year. Thus, all experimental work should be directed at these items. With regards to research going on in each of the evaluated labs and experimental demonstration fields, those present offered suggestions on improvements, integration, and updating so as to enhance research quality and efficiency. In this way, an agricultural technology orientation that suits the regional industry can be implemented while furthering the exchange of experiences among workers.