HELPING OUT THE FARMERS

Following the devastating earthquake that hit our neighboring country last month, Taiwan's flower exports to Japan have significantly decreased by 30%.

To help the farmers in coping with the losses, the Pingtung County government recently held a flower arrangement event for over 10,000 people, and said that will continue to stimulate local demand for flowers while finding new markets to sell them.

Roses, lilies, flamingoes, and dancing ladies were used to create the beautiful flower arrangement.

The Pingtung County Government held a flower arrangement event Saturday at Ren Ai Elementary School, hoping to stimulate the domestic flower market and lessen the impact from the Japanese earthquake.

Japan is a main export market for dancing ladies and flamingo flowers.

A farmer said this year's exports of flamingo flowers to Japan have decreased by 30% and prices are lower too.

Additionally, due to the weather, the production of dancing ladies this year is only 40% of last year's harvest.

Although prices are more stable, there is a lack of demand due to Japan's lower appetite this year.

Thus, organizers are hoping to use this flower arrangement event to help stimulate the domestic market in the short term. They also hope to search for new export markets in the future. Additionally, graduation season is almost upon us.

Organizers are asking schools and education groups to use more dancing ladies and flamingo flowers in their flower arrangements to help the farmers.

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