Hainan offers fertile ground for fruit farmers from Taiwan

Chung Ming-han used to work in the seedling industry in Pingtung, Taiwan. However, in 2019, he chose to move to Qionghai, which has a similar climate to Taiwan, in the hope of achieving his dream of breeding rare tropical fruit.

He is employed as deputy manager at Window of the World Tropical Fruits, an orchard and tourist site where varieties of exotic fruit introduced to and grown in Hainan are displayed and sold.

The company has introduced 500 kinds of exotic tropical fruit from Central America, South America, Southeast Asia and other places, and more than 350 varieties have been successfully planted in Hainan, he said.

Walking around the orchard, people can view rare produce, including abiu fruit, golden mangosteens and finger limes, as it is one of Asia's largest suppliers of the fruit.

Chung said his company cooperates with local villagers by providing seedlings and technical guidance. It also takes care of sales, thus helping to raise the villagers' incomes.

Tropical fruit cultivation has become the leading industry for villagers' livelihoods, with more than half the local farmers engaged in the sector, he said.

He added that as more people visit the orchard to see the rare tropical fruit, homestays have been built and more young people are now returning to work in their hometown.