Farmers advised to step up protection of crops from coldBy Esme Yeh / Staff reporterThe Agriculture and Food Agency yesterday called on farmers to enhance measures to protect crops as the effects of a cold air mass and radiative cooling continued to affect the nation. Farmers are advised to refrain from planting rice seedlings during the cold surge and set up cold barriers around rice seedling nurseries, it said. Non-woven or plastic cloth can be used to shield growing seedlings from cold, but water pooling on the cloth must be promptly removed to prevent frost damage, it said. Tea plants could be affected by cold temperatures although most of them have entered winter dormancy, it said, adding that cold protection techniques like anti-frost fans are recommended to reduce cold damage. Fruit trees damaged by cold temperatures must be trimmed to remove the affected branches and leaves, it added.

Source: Taipei Times January 09, 2026 17:45 UTC