In the face of a new era defined by climate change, patterns change in economics and agriculture domestically and internationally, and the development of technology, the Council of Agriculture (COA) is aiming not only to strengthen Taiwan’s agricultural structure but also innovate values of rural economy in order to achieve multiple goals, including ensuring the well-being farmers and increasing farmers’ incomes while simultaneously ensuring food safety for the general public and sustaining environment. To accomplish these tasks COA will create a structure based on “Moving forward with a fostering powerful core” through three policy axes: establish agricultural paradigms; construct food security and food safety system; enhance abilities of agricultural marketing. Some major areas of policy direction and implementation in 2015 included the following:

Promoting a higher quality standards and full traceability of agro-products; strengthening management of food safety; protecting consumers

　　Aiming to encourage citizens to purchase domestically produced agro-products and to ensure food safety for consumers, the COA has been continually promoting a certification system for traceable agricultural products. We have been working for many years on the “Taiwan Agricultural Products Production Traceability System.” One new step in this regard in 2015 was the promotion of traceability labeling for loose-packed eggs. Another was certification of “traceability restaurants,” of which there were 180 in 2015. Also, we have strengthened quality control of the safety of domestically produced rice, and rice tested for agro-chemical residues was up to standard in 100% of tests done in 2015. Finally, in 2015 we announced amendments to the Agro-Pesticides Management Act to increase fines for the manufacture, processing, packaging, distribution, import, or sale of banned agro-chemicals.

Insisting on “agri-land for agricultural usage” to preserve agricultural production resources; striving for greater value-added use of farmland

　　Land is absolutely essential for agriculture. Based on considerations of food security and preserving farmland resources, the COA has been continually promoting a program called “Adjusting the Cropping System and Revitalizing Fallow Land.” Under this plan we have been reducing the amount of land left fallow and working to raise Taiwan’s food self-sufficiency rate. Major steps in 2015 included the following: (1) By making use of the successful implementation of land grading and classification to help select land, we continued to promote creation of “agricultural special zones.” (2) We amended the regulations governing construction of farmhouses on land zoned for agricultural use and proposed draft amendments to the Agricultural Development Act. (3) In order to implement the principle of “integrating green energy facilities with agricultural operations,” we amended the regulations governing review of applications for permission to construct facilities on land zoned for agriculture so that—under the condition that there is no serious impact on using agricultural land for agricultural operations—we can promote development of green energy facilities in marginal farmland.

Promoting the “Agricultural Productivity 4.0 Strategic Plan”; using intelligent production and digital services to upgrade the agricultural sector

　　In order to encourage the transformation and upgrading of the agricultural sector, the COA actively encourages the use of information and communications technology as well as innovative engineering technology, in coordination with systematic management, to upgrade agricultural competitiveness. The main policy outline for doing this is called the “Agricultural Productivity 4.0 Strategic Plan.” This plan identifies three flagship industry categories: biotech agriculture; high-quality agriculture; and precision agriculture. Under this plan we are going to upgrade the agricultural sector through the introduction of advanced technology.

Responding to the impact of avian influenza and accelerating recovery of the poultry industry; upgrading bio-safety in the poultry industry

　　Early in 2015, there was an outbreak of avian influenza, which had a severe impact on Taiwan’s poultry industry. In order to move as quickly as possible to ensure the recovery of this industry, the COA guided farmers in implementing infection prevention measures, and we also provided special loans for farmers. In order to reduce the risk of an epidemic, we set out plans to use non-open poultry sheds and guided farmers to restore their operations, and upgraded bio-safety measures in production facilities. Finally, in order to minimize risk of infection through contact between poultry and humans, the COA announced that retail markets were banned from exhibiting, displaying, or selling live poultry (including chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys).

Reducing the impact of natural disasters on rural incomes; promoting reform of the welfare allowance system for the rural population

　　In an effort to stabilize incomes from agricultural production and avoid farmers suffering severe losses caused by natural disasters, in 2015 the COA amended the “Regulations for Relief for Damage Caused by Natural Disasters” and related measures. On another front, we have been proactively working with the domestic insurance industry to develop commercial natural-disaster insurance products for the rural economy in order to reduce uncertainties in farmers’ agricultural operations. Finally, we amended Article 5 of the Farmers Health Insurance Act in order to resolve disputes that arose as a result of differences in the status of farmers participating in the Farmers Health Insurance program.

Adjusting the manpower structure of rural labor; planning for the entry of a new generation of manpower resources into agriculture

　　Taiwan faces major problems in the labor force in the agricultural sector. To address this, the COA has been proactively adjusting the rural manpower structure, and has adopted the “Program for Training a New Generation to Work in the Agircultural Sector.” Our goal is to comprehensively train 30,000 highly skilled young farmers to drive value-added innovation in the rural economy and contribute to regeneration of rural communities. In 2015 we began offering publicly funded specialized courses, and we are, through the creation of a variety of learning systems, working to attract young people into agriculture.

Proactively strengthening international agricultural cooperation; developing overseas markets to promote industrial upgrading

　　In 2015, the COA: (a) signed a memorandum of cooperation with the International Rice Research Institute; (b) established formal cooperative relationships with research organizations belonging to the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR); (c) signed a fisheries law-enforcement cooperation agreement with South Africa, in order to uphold the safety of our fishermen while they are operating at sea; and (d) signed an official agreement with the Solomon Islands to cooperate in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities. Also, we have long been working to expand overseas markets for Taiwan agro-products. Mainland China is now the number one market for Taiwan agro-products and in 2015 Taiwan enjoyed a surplus of US$90.12 million in agricultural trade with mainland China.

Conclusion

　　For the future, the COA is dedicated to creating a “New Agriculture” that is tailored to Taiwan’s unique conditions. We will promote environmental payments on farmland; promote organic and eco-friendly cultivation; upgrade the competitiveness of hog industry; strengthen conservation actions on marine and fisheries resources; deepen the spirits of Satoyama Initiative; raise food self-sufficiency rates; ensure food safety; and increase exports of agro-products. I would like to thank all our partners in both the public and private sectors for their efforts over the past year, and I hope that with everyone’s commitment, Taiwan’s agricultural sector can move toward to an even more brilliant vision of a“Nationalized Agriculture” with contented farmers, safe agriculture, and rural communities that are aesthetically pleasing and offer a high quality of life.

Minister

Council of Agriculture