Central News Agency (CNA, reporter Yang Sze-jui, Tainan, July 2) Tainan's important agricultural product, the pomelo, has experienced a poor fruit set rate this year, with some orchards facing significant harvest reductions. Farmers attribute this to damage from Typhoon Doksuri last year, followed by a dry winter. The Ministry of Agriculture has announced cash assistance for natural disasters, with applications opening today. The Tainan City Government's Agriculture Bureau issued a press release today stating that due to the lingering damage from Typhoon Doksuri in 2023, Tainan's pomelos have been affected. The Ministry of Agriculture has designated Tainan City as an area eligible for cash assistance for natural disasters affecting pomelos. Qualified farmers can apply at their local district office from today until July 15. The Agriculture Bureau stated that the cash assistance for pomelos is NT$80,000 per hectare. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements stipulated in the Regulations for Natural Disaster Relief for Agriculture, and the loss rate for pomelos must be 20% or more. Losses below 20% will not be eligible for assistance. A pomelo farmer from Madou District, surnamed Chiu, told CNA that many pomelo trees were damaged by Typhoon Doksuri last year, causing not only fruit drop but also root damage. Coupled with the low rainfall from winter to spring last year, the trees' flowering this year has been generally poor, and the fruit set rate is also low, impacting harvests for two consecutive years. The Tainan City Agriculture Bureau estimates that this year's pomelo production may decrease by about 30% compared to previous years. Some orchards that were more severely affected by the typhoon last year have a fruit-bearing rate of only 10-20%. However, some orchards were unaffected. As harvest time is still some distance away, the actual yield remains to be observed. (Editor: Lung Po-an) 0702 Stand with facts, your every donation is a force to protect pre