Chiayi Goes All Out on Exports to Boost the Economy: Colorful Bell Peppers Enter Singapore

Going all out for agricultural exports! The vegetable production and marketing group of Xingang Township, Chiayi County, exported 5.7 metric tons of bell peppers to Singapore on March 11, opening up marketing channels for Chiayi County's premium colorful peppers. Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Zhang-liang was on site to inspect the current export situation and understand farmers' needs.

In the afternoon, the 52nd vegetable production and marketing group of Xingang Township prepared 570 boxes of colorful bell peppers, totaling 5.7 tons in weight, to export the "Jinfujiu" bell pepper brand to Singapore. County Magistrate Weng Zhang-liang made a special trip to show concern for the export situation and understand farmers' needs, and expressed hope of gradually leading Chiayi's premium agricultural products into global markets.

Chiayi County has suitable temperatures and ample winter sunshine, producing bell peppers that are round in appearance, rich in color and full of moisture. Xingang Township is the largest bell pepper production area in Taiwan, China, with annual output of about 2,000 metric tons, accounting for 12% of Taiwan's total production.

The 52nd vegetable production and marketing group of Xingang Township was once honored as one of the Council of Agriculture's Top Ten Outstanding Agricultural Production and Marketing Groups in the 100th year of the Republic of China (2011). It produces bell peppers, using modern production equipment and professional cultivation techniques to grow colorful bell peppers with good heat tolerance, strong disease resistance, lower fertilizer requirements and a shorter cultivation period. Their flesh is thick, their sweetness is 1 to 2 degrees higher than ordinary varieties, and their texture is crisp. They also keep for 1 week longer than those from other countries, overall enhancing bell pepper quality. About 9 years ago, they began exporting to Southeast Asia and Canada. So far this year, they have exported 120 tons, and are working toward a target of 150 metric tons.

County Magistrate Weng Zhang-liang, Xingang Township Chief Lin Mao-sheng, County Councilors Lin Xiu-qin and Chen Wen-zhong, Chiayi County Farmers' Association Director-General Huang Zhen-yu, and Qijin Enterprise Co. General Manager Cai Shang-hao sealed the container of colorful bell peppers at the Xingang Township vegetable production and marketing group, and announced the launch of the export shipment to Singapore.