Developing organic and recreational farming is a part of innovative agriculture and a major agricultural policy of the administration, Premier Mao Chi-kuo stated at today's Cabinet meeting.
The premier made these remarks after a briefing by the Council of Agriculture (COA) on the development and promotion of organic and recreational farming in Taitung and Hualien counties.
Organic farming has great potential, the premier stated. However, organic farmlands comprise only 0.7 percent of farmlands in the ROC (Taiwan), compared to more than 10 percent in Germany. Thus, Taiwan still has great room for growth.
The premier affirmed the COA for its proactive promotional efforts, which have helped Hualien and Taitung to boast nearly 30 percent of the nation's organic farms. In addition, tourists visiting Hualien and Taitung for agritourism have been rising every year along with the production value from such farmlands.
Organic farming has diverse values, such as ecological conservation and environmental friendliness, the premier noted. Moreover, farmers can obtain a greater share of revenue through organic farming's overall management operations, particularly in comparison to conventional methods that require fertilizers.
Through establishing a production traceability system, price differentiation is realized; via the arrangements of contracts and cooperation as well as government procurement measures, a better operation and production environment is created.
The premier asked the COA to further incorporate private resources to assess the feasibility of establishing regional processing facilities so that processed products may yield added values.
Recreational agriculture engenders an environment for citizenry to learn and experience farming, to relax and to conduct leisure travel, the premier emphasized. It also helps farming villages to develop value-added agribusinesses.
However, shuttle transportation and collaboration with other industries still need to be strengthened through complementary measures. The premier expects the COA to integrate tourism resources with relevant ministries and agencies. This would bring about agritourism in eastern Taiwan and create business opportunities, while also attracting young people to return to their hometowns to develop sustainable farming villages.
The COA pointed out that Hualien and Taitung have had a good start in organic farming. In the future the COA will continue to help the counties enlarge their relevant production volumes, institute marketing channels, stabilize farmers' income and livelihoods, and incorporate local farming village communities, indigenous culture and ecotourism for the development of the organic farming industry.