The situation of Taiwan’s agricultural industry in 2009 can best be summed up in the statement “Like the phoenix, Taiwan’s agricultural industry rose from the ashes in 2009 to transform itself and grow stronger.” For years, agriculture played a supporting role to industrialdevelopment. This has gradually shifted and become more diversified. Now, it provides a stable and secure food supply, serves as a foundationin the building of culture, and helps to protect the ecology and environment. It is society’s most important foundational industry and itis the key green industry for dealing with global climate change. Facedwith the global economic crisis as well as environmental and climate changes, Taiwan needs to not only accelerate the rebuilding of agriculture in the wake of the destruction wrought by Typhoon Morakot, but also keep pace with the rest of the world in the pursuit of dynamic equilibrium and to transform crisis into opportunity by developing high-quality agriculture, while promoting the restoration of marine aquaculture which doesn’t require large amounts of power and which has alow environmental footprint. It has also created the Alishan recreationarea, which boasts both beautiful natural scenery and aesthetic beauty,to promote the reinvention of agriculture in Taiwan.

　In the yearunder review, the successes in Taiwan’s agricultural industry realized through hard work and cooperation between the government and the farmersand fishermen are clearly evident. In order to realize its core value of “making life good for farmers,” the COA has established “healthfulness, efficiency, and sustainability” as its policy objectivesand continued to strive toward these goals by implementing and promoting 12 programs, including “small land-owner and big land-renter,”rural regeneration, greening and reforestation, and coastal regeneration. It has also been innovatively promoting the quality agriculture program to develop three main focuses—healthful, excellent, and LOHO agriculture, and using land conservation strategies and principles to accelerate the promotion of agricultural reconstruction tobolster the agricultural industry and give it a competitive edge. This will serve to transform agriculture from a traditional production industry to a green service industry to breathe life into the economies of farming and fishing villages and provide the people of Taiwan with a high quality living environment.

　As to important policy achievements in 2009, with the establishment of healthful, high quality agriculture in mind, the COA promoted GAP, organic, TAP, and CAS for agricultural products. Of these, 19,143 hectares were used for TAP production—a 47% increase over the 13,000 hectares used in 2008. As to the development of high tech agriculture, a total of NT$71.38 million infunds was used for R&D in high tech technology—22% more than the NT$58.45 million allotted in 2008. Ornamental fishes from Taiwan received two first places and four second places in competitions at the Netherlands World Exposition and Taiwan’s crystal shrimp received an award for most popular entry. A research and development center for aquatic life for export is scheduled to be set up at the Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnology Park, making it an important world center forthe ornamental fish industry.

　Extensive promotion of the small land-owner and big land-renter policy coupled with land fallowing measures has produced a win-win-win situation for land owners and renters as well as the government, enhancing economies of scale, resulting in the leasing of a total of 2,580 hectares of farmland. To enhance international cooperation in the agricultural and fishing industries, the COA actively promoted cross-strait agricultural, economic, and trade consultations and in December, the COA signed the Cross-Strait Agreement on Cooperation in Fishing Boats and Crew Labor aswell as the Cross-Strait Agreement on Cooperation in Inspection and Quarantine of Agricultural Products with the PRC to ensure the rights offarmers and promote the global distribution and marketing of agricultural products. As a result, the export value of such products asgrouper, butterfly orchids, young soybeans, and lettuce from Taiwan hasseen significant growth. Furthermore, a number of specialty agricultural products from Taiwan, like big-eye tuna, young soybeans, and dancing-lady orchids, are top imports in their individual categorieson the Japanese market.

　As to the building of new fishing villages, grass roots groups have promoted rural regeneration and rural regeneration, creating special characteristics for communities in farming and fishing villages and recreating the aesthetics of life in farming villages. The expansion of in-depth agricultural and fishing tourism has resulted in more than 10 million recreational visits to agricultural and fishing areas, created 1,379 jobs, and generated NT$550million in production value. Three locations with large flatland forests, including Aogu in Chiayi County’s Dongshi Township, Silin in Linhou Township, Pingdong County, and Dafu in Danong Township, Hualian, have been selected as recreational areas. The one in Hualian is scheduled to open at the end of 2010.

　Typhoon Morakot caused morethan NT$19.4 billion in agricultural damage. The COA immediately provided emergency epidemic prevention, offering financial relief measures that were lenient, quick, and easy to obtain. It further mobilized 15 technology service teams established by various experimental agricultural research organizations to provide technical consultation to help farmers, ranchers, and fishermen in disaster areas to rebuild and transform and to assist in the marketing of agricultural products from disaster areas. As a result of the hard work of both farmers and the government, these areas have been gradually recovering. Two other key specialized agricultural industries, orchids and groupers,also experienced serious losses, they have recovered 90% and 60%, respectively. Phalaenopsis orchids, in particular, have enjoyed excellent export figures, growing NT$62.68 million, or 20%, over 2008.

　Itis my hope that this annual report serves to help educate the people ofTaiwan in regard to the implementation of agricultural policies in Taiwan, thereby encouraging Taiwan’s agriculture industry. I also hope that it serves to further enhance the planning and implementation of agriculture policies, so that agriculture in Taiwan can prosper and gradually realize the goals of healthfulness, efficiency, and sustainability.

Wu-hsiung Chen
Minister
Council of Agriculture
Executive Yuan