Taiwan donated 33,000 tonnes of rice as part of humanitarian aid last year, a 150 percent increase from the 22,000 tonnes donated in 2020, the Agriculture and Food Agency said on Friday.
The surge in rice donations likely reflected worsening global poverty and supply chain disruptions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, agency Director-General Hu Jong-i (胡忠一) said.
The suspension of agricultural missions to diplomatic allies due to pandemic travel restrictions might also have contributed to the increase in rice shipments, he said.
Citing the motto “Taiwan can help,” Hu said the agency makes food donations with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,