Taiwan English News
Date: June 22, 2019 
By: Phillip Charlier

Less than two weeks after the first case of fall army worm was detected in Taiwan, the Council of Agriculture (COA) has confirmed a further 150 cases spread widely over the country, and yesterday, June 21, South Korea reported the first confirmed case on Jeju Island.

Statistics released by the Quarantine and Inspection Bureau show that there have been more than 5,000 reports since the first case was confirmed June 10, and a total of 151 confirmed cases as of June 21. Of the confirmed cases, 75 crops were completely destroyed by burying or burning, and 56 treated with pesticides.

Confirmed cases have been found in every county on the main island, and also Kinmen, Matsu, and Penghu in the Taiwan Strait. However, the COA emphasized that they were still in the emergency prevention stage, attempting to stop the invasion. As part of the strategy, a NT$10,000 reward is being offered for reports leading to confirmed cases.

Council of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Quarantine and Inspection Bureau.

The COA appealed to farmers to contact the contingency team of the Quarantine Inspection Bureau if they have a suspected case, so that pesticides can by applied under the guidance of experts, urging farmers not to apply pesticides willy-nilly as this may lead to ineffective treatment and pesticide-resistance.    [FULL  STORY]