Taiwan Today

Agriculture is an important economic driver in Tainan City.
 

Last winter visitors to the 23rd World Orchid Conference in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City were greeted by a stunning array of moth orchids with petals colored to match the national flags of participating countries. The conference, held alongside the 20th Taiwan International Orchid Show (TIOS), was part of a series of high-profile events taking place throughout the year to mark the municipality’s 400th anniversary.

Organized by Tainan City Gover­nment (TCG) and Tainan-based Taiwan Orchid Growers Association, the events placed a spotlight on the region’s prowess in orchid production. They attracted over 1,000 participants and 350,000 visitors from 62 countries, generating a 20-year high of over NT$11.5 billion (US$355 million) in export orders. The plant is key to both the city’s agricultural industry and the country’s floriculture sector. Taiwan supplies a third of the world’s orchids, with Tainan accounting for half of the nation’s total.

“Taiwan has become a leading player in the global orchid market thanks to close collaboration between industry, government, academia and research institutes,” said Lee Chien-yu (李建裕), director of the TCG’s Bureau of Agriculture. “TIOS is a valuable platform for showcasing unique products and novel varieties, helping local growers tap into emerging markets.”
  The show was hosted at the 175-hectare Taiwan Orchid Technology Park (TOTP), the world’s largest ­orchid ­industry cluster. The hub ­currently houses­ 68 companies employing 1,800 people and generates NT$2 ­billion (US$62 ­million) in annual sales. “Advanced breeding and cultivation techniques, ­diverse selection and a complete ­supply chain ensure international competitiveness,” said Hsieh Sheng-hsin (謝勝信), director-general of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agricultural Technology Park (ATP) in southern Taiwan’s Pingtung County. “TOTP helps Taiwan maintain its key position in the sector by facilitating ­information ­sharing, networking and partnerships among ­industry participants.”

 

Novelty Factor
According to Hsieh, the technology park, which opened in 2012, has reached full capacity and needs to expand. The transfer­ of management from TCG to the ATP last year will accelerate the process by directing more funding and resources to the park. The proposed ­expansion, ­currently under review by the Executive Yuan, ­includes a 120-hectare­ complex ­featuring an R&D center, ­experimental farm, water recycling facility­ and ­automated ­greenhouses, as well as ­enhanced inspection­, quarantine and customs clearance services for ­expedited export capabilities.
 

Among the varieties cultivated at TOTP, moth orchids are in highest ­demand, making up over 80 percent of the country’s overall orchid export value. Their broad appeal lies in their long lifespan—up to four months—and wide range of shapes and colors. Resident company Symon Agricultural Biotech is a major producer of moth orchid ­seedlings, potted plants and cut flowers.

Symon has gained attention in recent years for its spray-printing, which was used to create the national flags on the plants at the orchid conference exhibition. “We apply new technologies and innovations to add value,” said David Huang (黃崇德), executive technical director. The company tailors color, size and images to individual customer needs while conducting R&D on new varieties with better disease resistance and longer-lasting blooms. Their products have proved popular in markets spanning Asia, Oceania and North America.
 

Farm Fresh
In addition to orchids, Tainan excels in fresh produce. The city leads the country in mango and pomelo yields and ranks second in pineapple production volume. Other major crops include guavas, jujubes, oranges and tomatoes, as well as aquaculture products like clams, milkfish, shrimp and Taiwan tilapia.

“Agriculture faces the challenges of an aging workforce, climate change and ­environmental sustainability, so the ­government safeguards farmers’ livelihoods by adding value and diversifying sales channels,” Lee said. “Other support ­measures include cold chain logistics and food ­processing systems to improve ­efficiency and reduce spoilage.”

A key initiative aims to build a strong brand image for Tainan’s agricultural products. TCG’s certification label, Best Product of Tainan, guarantees hygiene, quality, safety and traceability. The items feature on the city government’s ­official website and at marketing activities such as the Tainan International Mango Festival. More than 260 fresh and ­processed items were certified from the project’s launch in 2021 to the end of 2023.

  International Appeal
TCG is also exploring new international opportunities for Tainan’s agricultural­ products by developing e-commerce platforms, assisting farmers with branding and packaging and initiating trade promotion programs. In recent years, the city government has ­collaborated with farmers’ associations to organize agricultural delegations to Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, where members attend international food fairs, conduct trade talks, stage business matchmaking activities and establish sections for Taiwan products in supermarkets. The strategy is paying ­dividends, with the export volume of mango skyrocketing 241 percent year on year in 2023.

Zheng Hong-sheng (鄭宏昇), a ­pineapple farmer in Guanmiao District, ­exemplifies this success. To achieve ­economy of scale, he expanded land area by combining his three-hectare family farm with 15 hectares owned by ­smallholders. The additional plots are farmed via ­contracts requiring growers to implement sustainable farming methods, and the resulting produce is certified by Taiwan’s Traceable Agricultural Product system.

  Zheng now supplies about half of the fresh pineapples sold in PX Mart, one of Taiwan’s largest supermarket chains, and sells his produce in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. “The ­rising demand for organic, locally sourced food grown using eco-friendly practices inspired me to rethink my approach to farming,” Zheng said. “Now my ­business is not only sustainable, but immensely rewarding.”

As Tainan celebrates its 400th ­anni­­versary, the city is seizing the ­opportunity to showcase its agricultural achievements. “We’re using this special year to boost the visibility and sales of the city’s ­high-quality produce, food ­products and ornamental plants,” Lee said. “Our ­ultimate goal is to encourage young people to engage in agriculture and ­contribute to rural regeneration.”

Write to Kelly Her at kher@mofa.gov.tw