Solar power grabs land and cuts down trees; over a hundred mango farmers in Pingtung roar that they just want to farm

Ground-mounted solar power has been mired in controversy. Recently, a solar power company applied to the Pingtung County Government to install solar panels on the riverbeds of Shuaimang Creek and Tuwen Creek, but this area is a mango production zone in Fangliao. Over a hundred fruit farmers were furious about this, and on January 16, fruit farmers from Fangliao Township and Fangshan Township in Pingtung County formed a self-rescue association. Fangliao fruit farmers said the solar power company never held a single briefing from beginning to end, yet during the boundary survey it came directly to cut down the farmers' mango trees, making the farmers feel disrespected and extremely angry.

Almost all the mango orchards here are on state-owned land. The Fangliao Township Office called on farmers who have already leased state-owned land, have already filed applications, and have not yet received their lease contracts to also refuse the solar power company's persuasion; farmers who have not yet applied for a lease should prepare their documents as soon as possible to lease the land. Mr. Wen, the case officer at the Pingtung Office of the National Property Administration, said this case involves 83 parcels of land, and the company must obtain the consent of all leasing farmers through persuasion within 2 years, otherwise it cannot proceed with the work.