China adopts measures to help orange farmers

The local governments in China's orange production areas have adopted measures to provide farmers with favourable policies to curb falling sales.

After the orange wormy incident broke out in Southwest China's Sichuan Province last month, the widely-spread rumor about oranges has put the public in panic, affecting sales in other areas across the country.

Tons of oranges remain unsold, leaving orange growers to face one of their most serious challenges.

The local governments' move intends to help orange growers out of the trouble.

These measures include giving subsidies to famers, granting road toll exemptions for transportation, and providing promotional services.

A supermarket consumer says she is confident of oranges sold in Beijing.

"The worm incident only happened in a local area. I feel relieved to buy oranges produced outside Sichuan."

Ma Shuping, vice director of the Plantation Management Department of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, says the orange market has undergone recovery.

"According to a recent investigation, the sales volume of oranges from main production areas such as Hunan, Hubei and Jiangxi provinces has risen. The price has also climbed so we now feel public confidence has returned."