In recognition of farmers' contributions to the nation, President Chen Shui-bian (
"The government has forged policies to strengthen our agriculture. We will establish an agricultural environment that is productive, fit for living and ecologically friendly. We will strive to reinforce crop species, upgrade our agricultural products and build brand images," Chen said in his address at the awards ceremony yesterday.
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
To keep pace with accelerated trade liberalization and globalization, Chen also said that the government will market high quality products internationally and develop an export-oriented agricultural economy.
"In line with this principal, we will set up a National Institute for Agriculture and the Ping Tung Agricultural Biotechnology Park. We will promote feature products like orchids, mangos, oolong tea, bream and others. Outlets for our featured agricultural products have also been set up in Tokyo, Osaka, and Hong Kong," Chen said.
During the ceremony the president -- who comes from a poor, rural area -- expressed sympathy and respect for the country's farmers.
"When our farmer friend Chiu Chui-chang (
The president also said he was proud of the two award winners, Hsieh Sung-ching (
The winner of the Agricultural Peace Award, Hsieh, 77, has spearheaded Taiwan's effort to help its diplomatic allies develop their agriculture sectors. During his decades-long odyssey of providing foreign aid to more than 30 countries, Hsieh and his agricultural technology transfer group have grown thousands of hectares of rice in remote areas of African countries.
In 1993, for example, Hsieh and his group found a water resource in the rocky, treeless desert of Bagra, Burkina Faso. By 1999, the Taiwanese team helped produce 40,000 tonnes of rice in the landlocked nation, fulfilling Taiwan's diplomatic promise to the country.
"Burkina Faso needs at least 70,000 tonnes of rice to feed its people. But before we came, the state only produced 30,000 tonnes by themselves. Now with our irrigation system and rice-planting techniques, the African State can sustain its own people and stand on its feet," Hsieh told the Taipei Times.
Taiwan's agricultural experience also helped its African friend Gambia to significantly increase production, according to Hsieh. Since 1996, the nation's agricultural technology transfer team has set up three vegetable farms in Gambia, which relies heavily on its peanut exports. With Taiwan's assistance, the small country has now begun to grow vegetables as well.
"We made friends with the locals. This is where we differ from all the foreign aid programs of other western nations," Hsieh said.
"I remember when President Chen came to visit the farm in Bajulingdin in Gambia in 2000. The people shouted, cheered and waved to President Chen. They now have even re-named the farm as A-bian Farm," he said.
Another agricultural expert, Hsu Jin-shi, 70, received the Agricultural Service Award for dedicating four decades to the irrigation system in Chianan Plain, Taiwan's largest plain and granary.
As chair of the Chianan Irrigation Association for more than 10 years, Hsu revamped the irrigation system and, together with the 200,000 members of the association, extended the system's reach to cover 380,000 hectares of agricultural land. The system has worked well, supplying the Chianan Plain's 2 million residents even in times of water shortage.
Hsu also voiced worries over the future of Taiwan's agriculture.
"As Taiwan has moved from an agricultural society to an industrial and commercial one, people now tend to ignore the importance of the farming industry," Hsu said.
The social standing of farmers has also fallen as agriculture's contribution to GDP has declined, Hsu said. "We need more social recognition and encouragement so that young people will come back to pursue a career in farming."
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