Tsai proposes reforms for agricultural sector in Taiwan

2016/03/07

A raft of reforms aimed at spurring the profitability and sustainability of Taiwan’s rural sector were recently proposed by ROC President-elect Tsai Ing-wen.

The initiatives include an agricultural land bank, farmers’ insurance scheme, labor brokerage system and new trading model. The bank enables the reassigning to young farmers of surplus or underused land, while the brokerage system assists in addressing labor shortages.

But it is the trading model that represents the greatest opportunity for achieving short- to mid-term improvements in the agricultural sector.

Tsai said during a March 1 visit to a lisianthus flower growing-marketing group at Singang Township in Chiayi County, southern Taiwan, that a government-backed export management company is necessary for pooling the resources of Taiwan’s predominantly small-scale farmers and delivering value-added products to market via upgraded packaging, promotion and sales processes.

“Taiwan has a solid foundation in agriculture,” she said “What we need to do is to further improve the quality of high-yield products and encourage innovative marketing strategies to increase global visibility.”

The Democratic Progressive Party chairwoman also praised the sales strategy of the lisianthus growers. According to statistics from the local farmers’ association, exports of 1.6 million flowers to the Japanese market during its off-peak season saw production value top NT$23 million (US$693,209) last winter, with an yearly sales of more than NT$110 million in 2015.

“Our goal is to adapt such a successful model sectorwide and nurture Taiwan into a key supplier of agricultural products in the global market,” Tsai said.

Another suggestion by Tsai involves implementing a globally accepted food labeling system. This measure is to be undertaken as part of her administration’s commitment to continuing government efforts aimed at ensuring food security in Taiwan.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=242682&ctNode=2194&mp=9)