Agriculture head says he wants to resign

Frustrated by continued resistance to reform, the nation's top agriculture official told Premier Yu Shyi-kun he wants to resign.

Council of Agriculture Chairman Fan Chen-tsung (范振宗) told a legislative committee that he was unfit for his job, which he depicted as "gruesome and harmful to his health."

"It is really difficult to steer the council and I hope I can quit," Fan said while briefing the Economics and Energy Committee on the council's spending plan for next year. "I've told the premier of my intention and he has asked me to stay on."

The agriculture official faces stiff resistance from farmers' and fishermen's associations opposed to the planned closure of their debt-ridden credit departments.

In addition, lawmakers have questioned the budget proposed by the council. They note that many research projects the council commissioned local colleagues to conduct have not yielded any fruit.

Straightforward and down-to-earth, Fan conceded he is no expert in the policy area though he has put in great efforts to learn.

"Frankly, I want to reform those research institutes," he said. "But it is a tough job and I have had a hard time of late."

Fan added that he believes his life would be shortened by 10 years if he stays at his post for two years.

His candid revelations raised eyebrows of legislative committee members, with PFP lawmaker Chou Hsi-wei (周錫瑋) urging Fan to promise to hang on for three more years.

"Can you swear not to quit before your three-year term expires [in January 2005]?" Chou said.

Fan, a former Hsinchu County commissioner, said that doing so would shorten his life span by 15 years and stressed he is not interested in being an official.

"But as long as I chair the agriculture council, I will try my best to meet my duty," he said, begging the committee to promptly approve the council's budget.