Farmers in Taitung are facing an embarrassment of riches. This year they have the greatest harvest in more than a decade of the well-known Chih-shang rice, but it may lead to oversupply and price decline next year. To avoid the problem, the local agricultural community is now working hard on new strategies to market their products.

The Chih-Shang Farmers' Association has regularly brought in a yearly supply 4,000 metric tons of rice harvest.

However, due to natural disasters this year, the rice harvest this year has reached 5,500 metric tons.

For the first time in ten years, their storages are filled to the ceilings with rice grain. but the extra 1,500 metric ton of rice that won't fit into the storages has become a dilemma.

This year, Taiwan is nationally seeing rich harvests of rice.

Reports have already come from the west of Taiwan that rice grains prices have now decreased to around a thousand NT dollars per 60 kilograms.

In order to protect farmers, the Chih-Shang Farmers' Association has kept with the original price of 1,500 NT dollars.

Its decision however, will make it difficult for the Chih-Shang Farmers to compete with the prices in western Taiwan.

To add to the burden, the extra rice grains that can't fit into the storages will end up being unmarketable.

Although the Association maintains its original pricing, it is thinking of new marketing strategies, such as better packaging, or selling the rice as presents for special occasions.

The Association is also taking advantage of the new year holidays to market their rice and hopefully resolve the issue of over supply.