Responding to a proposal by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for the drafting of an agriculture basic act (農業基本法) in the next legislative session, the Council of Agriculture said in a press release yesterday that the Executive Yuan had approved a draft act on June 2 and was now hoping for it to be passed by the legislature.
The first draft of the act was proposed in 2006 and several versions of it have been sent to the legislature for review by the -Executive Yuan over the years.
However, ever since the Rural Regeneration Act (農村再生條例) was passed with support from Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators in July last year, academics and DPP legislators have continued to call for an agriculture basic act.
At the Taiwan Advanced Agribusiness Development Association’s opening ceremony on Friday, DPP chairperson and presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) reaffirmed her support for an agriculture basic act.
“The agriculture basic act -represents an integral rethinking of agriculture. We hope that the act will help to launch a new agricultural movement and promote rural revitalization,” she said.
Tsai also said that land rights, the protection of farmland and reasonable distribution of water supplies were all essential to the upkeep of agricultural resources, adding that the issue of water conservation was especially important when supply was is limited.
The DPP’s support for an agriculture basic act was also mentioned at the party’s Central Standing Committee earlier this month.
The council said the agriculture basic act would serve as an important foundation for medium to long-term agricultural policy and related regulations.
In addition, the council said the draft act was worded with national development, future agricultural needs, the current situation and global trends, such as climate change, in mind.
The act was drafted with the aim of promoting “healthy, efficient and sustainable management” in agriculture, the council said, adding that it also referred to agricultural policy and guiding principles adopted in Japan, South Korea, the EU and Canada, as well as earlier draft proposals from legislators.
The draft act was also discussed with central government officials and related agencies, local governments and representatives of civic agricultural groups before being proposed, the council said.
The drafting process not only demonstrated the utmost respect for farmers, but also had the effect of guiding sustainable agricultural development and maintaining food security for years to come.
The council said the draft act focuses on basic agricultural policy, safety, industrial competitiveness, rural areas and farmers, rural ecology and the environment.
The council appealed for cross-party support for the draft law.
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