Rural Revitalization

　Influenced by urbanization and rapid industrial development, Taiwan’s population began to move to the cities, causing an exodus of young people from rural areas and the aging of the remaining population. Due to limited resources, the government has had to concentrate rural investment in certain geographical areas and on key infrastructure, resulting in insufficient development and public facilities. Rural quality of life has lagged behind that of major cities and the resultant gap has continued to increase. Under the Rural Village Revitalization Statute, the COA has created a NT$150 billion revitalization fund to improve 4,000 rural farming and fishing villages and enrich the lives of their 600,000 residents. This investment will spur rural regeneration, improve rural village development, and return dignity to those living in rural areas by creating beautiful, prosperous villages.

　At the core of rural regeneration are the village communities themselves. The goal of regeneration is to break through the long-term lack of rural development and care for less privileged residents. The resulting improved villages will encourage the younger generation to return and even attract tourists from the city.

　The COA drew up the Rural Regeneration Act to promote industrialization and land use in rural areas as well as environmental, social, cultural, and economic development in these same areas. The focus is on regenerating the communities themselves and breathing new life into rural villages through comprehensive environmental improvements, rebuilding a harmonious relationship between man and the land.

　The COA worked to spur renewal and resolve issues relevant to rural land restrictions. Each local area suggested its own framework and construction goals to improve infrastructure, while enhancing environmental protection and cultural preservation in rural areas. This all-encompassing program will improve rural land management to meet community development needs. Promotion of recreational agriculture will also enhance rural regeneration by encouraging young people to return to live in the villages. Rural industry will be revived, creating prosperous villages.  

Development of recreational farming and fishery

　The COA approved 401 applications to develop agricultural land into recreational farms and 177 were issued certifications. After thorough evaluation, the COA designated 63 areas as recreational agricultural zones and special assistance will be provided to meet the unique needs of each individual zone. In addition, the COA held two marketing programs to promote the Tour #9 and Sea of Flowers agricultural tours, packaged trips integrating recreational agriculture and community resources that attracted over two million visitors, giving a boost to the tourism industries in Hualian, Taitung, and Taichung County’s Dashancheng area and creating NT$1.6 billion in business opportunities. Overall efforts to increase agro-tourism, which included attending domestic and international tourism exhibitions and promotional activities, have attracted 9.59 million tourists, added 1,027 jobs, and created NT$5.7 billion in additional tourism revenue.

　The COA organized 84 local agricultural activities, including the Taoyuan Lotus Festival, to encourage the development of marketable products that reflect each individual community’s agricultural characteristics. These included 46 individual souvenirs along with 22 gift sets and wedding favors, creating NT$130 million dollars in revenue. To further develop the skills and earning capacity of women in rural areas, the COA organized 156 cooking courses that led to the creation of 1,359 local jobs for rural women that made a total of NT$278.6 million in revenue over the past year. This education program also provides the agro-tourism industry with badly-needed skilled food providers.

A new look for rural villages

　The COA is implementing a comprehensive program to give rural villages a new image though protecting the natural environment and promoting a variety of rural activities to regenerate farming and fishing villages. This also entails invigorating local industry, improving community disaster preparedness, and hastening environmental restoration. The plans are built upon a foundation of industrial development and the protection of each community’s unique cultural characteristics to create sustainable rural development. To achieve these goals, rural villages must work towards community self-sufficiency and increasing job opportunities. At the same time, the COA is working closely with communities on construction projects designed to beautify and bring prosperity to rural villages, improve quality of life, and return dignity and vitality to rural residents.

　In 2008, the COA drew up 33 county-level plans to revitalize the look of rural villages and 136 individual construction projects. In addition, the COA began 134 rural village environmental quality projects, subsidized 345 village transformation projects and provided financial assistance for 299 village development activities.

Irrigation and drainage improvements

　In 2008, 310 kilometers of irrigation canals were improved, 1,020 irrigation structures were upgraded, 584 hectares of agricultural land were rezoned, and 2,509 hectares of agricultural waterways were constructed on earlier farmland consolidation areas. Under the Changhua and Yunlin land-subsidence control plan, 10 kilometers of irrigation canals lying within three kilometers along the route of the Taiwan High Speed Railway tracks were improved and 6.4 kilometers of the Dacheng Township’s irrigation channel were expanded. Under the local infrastructure improvement and domestic demand expansion plan, 128.6 kilometers of roads were paved, 3.4 kilometers of road shoulder retaining walls were built, and 46.8 kilometers of U-shaped ditches and slope channels were developed.

　The use of water saving irrigation facilities was expanded and a real-time monitoring and reporting system was installed in the irrigation and drainage system to improve agricultural water use efficiency. In 2008, the system was expanded by 1,665 hectares and an automated monitoring and reporting system for rainfall, water level, and water flow in 94 locations was set up.

　The COA assisted irrigation associations in enhancing irrigation water quality management and maintenance to ensure hygienic and safe crop production. In 2008, monitoring was carried out at 15,353 points along the system and industrial waste water release was traced back to its origin in 25,949 cases.

Renewing rural community cultural development

　Developing human resources in rural areas integrates local industry, landscape, ecology, and culture to promote renewed rural, industrial, and cultural development. With the deep roots of agricultural associations in local areas, a total of 118 rural communities have carried out community empowerment and cultural development. A total of 405 classes were held on cultural development training covering topics ranging from redevelopment of local industry to retaining culture and passing it along to future generations. Communities developed 20 innovative souvenir products unique to their areas, 1,460 areas were cleaned or beautified, while 98,296 people took part in 3,456 community activities. Achievements of outstanding communities were also recognized.