The new government will seek to improve the profitability and sustainability of the nation’s agriculture sector by introducing major reforms, promoting safe agricultural products and boosting exports, president-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday.
Tsai made the remarks at a news conference during her tour of Chiayi, where she visited the county’s agricultural cooperatives in Singang (新港) and Taibo (太保) townships, accompanied by Chiayi County Commissioner Helen Chang (張花冠) and Chiayi Mayor Twu Shiing-jer (涂醒哲).
Tsai said that her administration would promote “a new agricultural paradigm” to raise the incomes of farm workers with a focus on protecting their rights, increasing the sector’s potential for development and promoting environmental sustainability.
Photo: CNA
Major policy changes would include the introduction of a farmer’s insurance scheme and subsidies for preserving green lands on agricultural properties, she added.
Tsai said she would introduce an agricultural product safety certification system that would be compatible with global standards, so that domestic and international consumers would have peace of mind when buying Taiwanese products.
The government would also encourage innovative marketing strategies to promote Taiwanese exports, she said.
“Making agriculture a truly profitable and sustainable business will ensure the dignity of farmers,” she said.
Tsai said that Singang’s flower farmers concentrate on bluebell flower exports to Japan and plan their harvests during Japanese producers’ off-season to avoid direct competition.
This not only satisfies market demand, but also helps Taiwanese producers maintain a more efficient system for selecting quality products and securing transportation, she said.
The successful business model of Singang’s floricultural cooperative in producing and exporting high-value farm products exemplifies the new agricultural paradigm the new government would encourage, she added.
The greatest challenge for Taiwanese agriculture is to combine the resources of its predominantly small-scale farmers with effective organizations for production, value-adding, packaging and sales, Tsai said.
“Taiwan’s agriculture has sound fundamentals and aptitude for progress, as well as young and innovative farm workers. With good policy direction from the government, it is certain that Taiwanese agriculture will become a strong team,” she said.
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