High temperatures and drought in central and southern China have led to an outbreak of a viral disease affecting small tomatoes, caused by the silver leaf whitefly. The Council of Agriculture in Taiwan is surveying the damage and providing short-term cash relief for natural disaster losses, with a new tomato insurance plan set to launch next year to reduce farmers' risk. The agency is also seeking to enter the Japanese market with pest-free tomatoes by collaborating with the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.