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Summary

The goal of agricultural production is to maintain balance between production and sales, ensure food supplies, upgrade production quality and reach an equilibrium between life and ecology. Since Taiwan became a WTO member in 2004, various agricultural and animal imports have gradually increased. Plus the cold damage early in the year, typhoons and torrential rains, and adjustment of rice production to balance supply and demand, the four major industries of agriculture, forestry, fishery and animal husbandry have all posted lower yields. The annual agricultural production index is 4.23% lower than that of 2003. Unstable climate resulted in smaller crops overall and place- of-production prices went up for the most parts.

A. Agricultural Production Indexes

   The 99.85 (basing on that of year 2001 as 100) annual agricultural production index of year 2004 is a 4.23% drop from 2003 mainly due to the noticeable decrease in agricultural productions and fishery catches. In categorized analysis of various industries, farming products such rice, coarse cereals and special crops showed discernibly smaller yields that caused a 4.96% fall in categorized index. Production of forestry byproducts such as firewood and raw bamboo shoots went down and brought the categorized index 0.17% lower. In fish products, a 7.12% fall in categorized index had resulted from lessened deep-sea, offshore and coastal catches as well as smaller yields of sea and inland aquaculture. In animal products, low production of duck eggs, cows, cow’s milk and honey led to a 0.12% fall in categorized index.

B. Agricultural Production Structures

   The total agricultural production value was NT$386.5 billion in 2004, 8% higher than the year before. Farm products accounted for 41.99% at NT$162.3 billion, 10.20% more than 2003. In separate farm production value structures, fruit made up the largest portion of 39.22%, followed by 25.09% of vegetables, rice 16.95%, special crops 4.38% and coarse cereals and other crops respectively of 4.79% and 9.56%. Compared to 2003, rice production dropped 2.29% and fruit and vegetables respectively had a 1.72% and a 9.56% increase. Animal production value was NT$125 billion, representing 32.34%, 11.02% higher than the previous year. In separate animal and fowl production value structures, pigs topped the list with 51.49%, fowls came second at 28.89%, eggs 10.30% and other animal products 9.31%. Compared to 2003, pigs had an increase of 0.44%, fowls 2.15%, while eggs and other animal products respectively dropped 0.75% and 1.84%. Fishery production was NT$98.7 billion, occupying 25.54%, 1.30% over 2004. In separate fishery production value structures, deep-sea fishing made up the highest 47.60%, tailed by inland aquaculture’s 28.60%, offshore fishing’s 13.57%, coastal fishery’s 6.84%, and sea farming’s 3.37%. Inland fishing only accounted for an insignificant proportion. Compared to 2003, the higher fluctuations were the o.74% increase in coastal fishery and the 1.09% decrease in sea farming.

C. Profile of Agricultural Productions

   In 2004, there were a few typhoons; plus cold damage and torrential rains, most crops had a smaller yield. Rice growth was in fine condition but increase of fallow farmland resulted in a 1.43 million ton drop in rice production, 13.02% less than the year before. Due to reduction of planting area, overall production of coarse cereals went down more than 10%. Special crops were cut back because of imports; tobacco, sugarcanes both for sugar and eating, and sesame seeds, etc. had a 20% to 40% slump. Abnormal weather patterns caused a general reduction in fruit productions, in which longans, mangoes, wax apples and lichees suffered decreases from 20% to 30%. Vegetables were uneven: ginger, onions and garlic went up 20% to 40%, whereas potatoes, leaf-mustard, water convolvulus and winter gourds fell around 20%. There was 30,000 cubic meters of timber produced, 16.38% more than the year before. Forestry byproducts, such as raw bamboo shoots and 樹實 , stood at 45,000 tons, 5.53% less than the previous year. Total fish catches were 1.26 million tons, a 16.08% decline from 2003. Deep-sea fishing dropped 22.78% and aquaculture 10.30%. Livestock, fowls and related products varied. Pigs went 0.59 higher; fowls also increased by 2% to 4%; while cows, sheep and goats, and cow’s milk dropped 4% to 9%.

D. Prices of Agricultural Products

   Prices of agricultural products at the place of production mostly went up in 2004. Production of unhusked Penglai rice went down due to the increase of fallow farmland area and prices at place of production grew 16.44%. Typhoon Mindulle and torrential rains seriously impaired vegetable growth and supplies of certain vegetables fell short. Celery cabbage, broccoli, water convolvulus, sponge gourds, string beans, Chinese cabbage, cucumbers, bitter gourds and ma bamboo shoots had a 20% to 30% hike in prices. Onions suffered the highest 36% plunge due to production growth. Garlic and turnips also dropped 20%. Fruit trees were injured by Typhoon Dujuan; plus the repercussions from Typhoon Mindulle and torrential rains, many fruits resulted in smaller outputs and market supplies were cut back. Bananas doubled in prices. Papayas and pomelos had a 50% hike, and pineapples, cantaloupes and guavas cost 20% to 30% more. In flower prices, oncidium orchids had a slight slump and all the rest went up. Among animal products, rises in international grain prices jacked up feed cost and pigs consequently went up 12%. Coming out of the shadow of the SARS outbreak and chemical residue incident the year before, meat chickens had revived demands and prices climbed 13%. In fish products, milkfish, mackerels, oysters and blue marlins were 20% to 40% more expensive than the former year. Clams, white pomfrets and tunas also went up around 10%, while tilapias fell close to 10%.

E. Farming Households and Employed Population

   According to data from the Taiwan region farming household sampling survey conducted by the Agriculture and Food Agency of COA in 2003, as of the end of 2003, there were 728,205 farming households, making up 10.36% of the total number of households in the Taiwan region. They accounted for 15.11%, around 3.4 million people, of the entire population. In 2004, 642,000 people were employed in agriculture, about 6.56% of the total employed population. The figure meant 54,000 people or 7.76% less than 2003.

F. Farming Household Incomes

   Data from the household income survey in the Taiwan region by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics of the Executive Yuan showed that in 2003 the average farming household income was NT$874,000, which was 76.91% of the average non-farming household income and a 1. 53% increase compared to 2002. Farming earnings, including various agricultural subsidies, took up 20.38% at NT$178.000. This was a NT$2000 or 0.97% growth from 2002. Incomes from non-agricultural sources accounted for 79.62% at NT$696,000. The average personal income in farming households was NT$222,000 in 2003, 2.56% more than 2002.