To alleviate the problem of rural labor shortages, the government in recent years has promoted a policy of subsidizing agricultural machinery that increase the efficiency of crop planting and harvesting. Combined with an ongoing project to establish a nationwide cold chain, the machinery subsidy policy helps the agricultural industry achieve vertical integration across production, manufacturing, storage and sales; raises incomes for agricultural workers; and enhances the food self-sufficiency rate. Now, the government has approved additional funding of NT$9.2 billion (US$312.1 million) for its 2022-2025 program to promote mechanization of agricultural work and modernization of agricultural equipment. This program will push automation and mechanization across all farming, forestry, fishery and livestock industries to further upgrade the efficiency of agricultural operations and alleviate the shortage of rural workers. All these efforts will strengthen the competitiveness of the agricultural industry and facilitate Taiwan's path to achieving net-zero emissions.
Four main strategies
■ Relieve rural labor shortages: Help farmers purchase agricultural machinery and expand the applications of such machinery.
■ Raise operational efficiency: Expand grain production via automated planting and mechanized harvesting, and promote the modernization of fishery and livestock facilities.
■ Reinforce industry competitiveness: Encourage farmers to automate equipment and promote vertical integration across production, manufacturing, storage and sales.
■ Reach national net-zero emissions: Promote the electrification of agricultural machinery, the development of an "under-forest economy" that prioritizes sustainable use of forest by-products, and the establishment of recycling sites for reuse of surplus agricultural resources.