The ROC Council of Agriculture should help farmers in eastern Taiwan develop organic farming as part of the government’s Golden Decade—LOHAS Agriculture plan to turn the nation into a happy, healthy and sustainable organic island, ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said Dec. 22.
Ma made the remarks while visiting Rencheng Organic Farm in Ji’an Township, Hualien County with COA Minister Chen Bao-ji to examine organic farming development in eastern Taiwan, the COA said.
The president praised the farm’s use of eco-ponds for water conservation and light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, to help warm and light greenhouse interiors to stabilize production, as well as the way organic farming combines environmental conservation with ecological balance.
“Organic farming is being promoted all over the world as the newest way to develop agriculture,” Ma said. “It is part of the ROC government’s quality agriculture initiative, which is one of the six emerging industries designated by the Cabinet in 2009.”
The president said the integration of organic farming with production, lifestyle and ecology should be oriented toward expansion of the agricultural industry value chain and organic consumption, creating demand for a healthy diet among such groups as schools and the military.
According to the COA, the government in recent years has provided awards, subsidies, educational training and technological services to encourage the adoption of organic farming, resulting in a 150-percent increase in certified acreage, from 2,356 hectares in 2008 to 5,930 hectares in November 2013.
The COA added that 14 special organic farming districts, 12 organic villages, 17 organic farmers’ markets, 120 organic farm shops and 140 organic e-commerce sites have been established. The integrated organic supply chain now provides 346,000 school students in New Taipei City with one meal per week made with organic vegetables, gradually building a diversified organic production sales network.
Future directions of organic farming strategy include further helping farmers to go organic; encouraging private investment; expanding the organic supply chain; developing organic agriculture in remote and aboriginal areas; promoting organic food education on campus; providing organic curricula in schools and research programs; cultivating technical talent; prioritizing financial aid; and supporting young people to enter the sector, the COA said.
The objective is to increase organic cultivation to 15,000 hectares by 2020, the council added. (SDH)
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