TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Over 5,000 landowners in Yunlin risk losing their agricultural insurance as authorities launch investigations into whether they are actively farming their land.

UDN reported Friday that the agriculture ministry has told Yunlin County Government more than 5,000 landowners who rent land to solar power companies or have received disaster relief subsidies are under investigation. The ministry said if the landowners cannot provide evidence they are farming, they will be made to withdraw from agriculture insurance.

Taiwan’s agriculture insurance program began in 1985 and provides medical insurance for farmers, according to the labor ministry. It was created to combat their low insurance rates and is 70% funded by government subsidies.

The agriculture ministry asked Yunlin County government to review land use in two letters earlier this month. Reviews of about 600 landlords are required by September and approximately 4,400 reviews are required by the year’s end.

The reviews will be conducted throughout the county. Landlords renting to solar power companies must show that they retain 0.1 hectares of farming land to qualify for the insurance. The ministry plans to meet with farmers in Yunlin on Wednesday to discuss the issue.

An unnamed representative of the Yunlin farmers association told UDN that some farmers rent their land to solar power companies because they are too old to work and want their land utilized.