Beware of Heatstroke: Hualien County Government Urges Strengthened Summer Management for Agriculture, Fishery, and Livestock

Hualien County has experienced extreme heat of 38°C in recent days, with the Central Weather Administration frequently issuing high-temperature alerts. The Hualien County Government is reminding those engaged in outdoor agricultural work to pay attention to their health and safety, avoid working during noon or peak heat hours, and reduce the risk of heatstroke. Chen Shu-wen, Director of the Department of Agriculture, stated that the recent hot and dry weather not only increases the physical burden on farmers but also affects crop growth and livestock/aquaculture environments. Farmers are urged to manage field moisture and cooling measures effectively. For crops, farmers should strengthen water management and use shading nets to prevent wilting. For livestock, operators should improve ventilation and use water sprays and fans to cool barns, while adding electrolytes to drinking water. For aquaculture, rising water temperatures reduce dissolved oxygen, so operators should increase oxygenation equipment and control feeding to prevent water quality deterioration. The county government will continue to monitor the impact of extreme weather and encourages farmers to report any losses to local offices for assistance.