Minister Chen, of Council of Agriculture, praises for them in person, approving of their contributions to Taiwan agriculture.

Council of Agriculture (COA) held the “2013 Awarding ceremony for 10 Shennong award farmers and 12 model farmer winners ” in the afternoon, on April 23rd, 2013.In this cerenmony. a total of 10 Shennong award farmers and 12 model farmer winners received their COA awarded certificate, plaque and prize of NTD 200,000 for each Shennong award winner, and certificate and prize of NTD 100,000 for 12 model farmer winners for citing their prominent performances on agriculture by COA Minister, Dr.Bao-Ji Chen.

There are 8 out of 10 Sheonnong award farmers come from the other sectors and they even give up their considerable annual income, devoting themselves to agriculture and to create an agricultural legend; in addition, one of the significant features is that a total of 8 winners aged in 30s to 40s which are characterized as the best paragon of youth farming and the agriculture is able to keep animating and to open a new page by means of their innovative concepts and skills.

Economic and trade liberalization is a world trend, Taiwan has to face it with new thinking.

Minister Chen addressed that he absolutely approves of the 10 Shennong award farmers’ and the 12 model farmers’ contributions to agriculture, and noted that economic and trade liberalization is a world trend, Taiwan can never face it with conservative thinking. COA will gradually promote strategy regarding the “new value chain for agriculture” to replace “product on agriculture” with principles of benefiting farmers, developing value-added agriculture and sustainable development and to boost big and excellent competitive industries and small but beautiful local businesses by value-added in cross field, guidance of building brands. Minister Chen took the examples of that the “Sunnyhill”pineapple cake is made of imported flour with domestic pineapple and 85cafe provides taro cake made of domestic taros are the two excellent examples of the food industry pushes the primary agriculture forward.

The outstanding deeds of the 10 farmers can be held up as models for the farmers of the country.

The selection of Shennong award farmers has been proceeding with runoff through townships, countries (cities) and regions since August, 2012 and a total of 22 candidates advanced in the finals; 10 winners of Shennong prize and 12 model farmers winners are selected under fair, just and open manner conducted by the COA.

The performances of the 10 Shennong prize winners can be divided into two main parts, agriculture and food industry and livestock and fisheries, of which will be briefly described as following: Li,Qi-yin, from Taichung City, engages in planting with Anthurium andraeanum and Oncidium and builds his own brand to enter the international market; Lin, Rui-peng, from Hualien County, devotes himself in organic vegetable production and carries out production and marketing with environmental friendly way; Chen, Chien-hsing, from Pingtung County, introduces production safety and biotechnology innovative ideas and produces various products regarding Arctium lappy by the brand “Dalisen”to bring back the glamour thereof; Yang, Chien-te, from Pingtung County, adheres to the concept of security of agriculture production, and successfully promotes the high quality papaya to Japan; Chan, Ming-chung, from Taitung County, combines the hot springs and coffee, forming an unique system of producing coffee and integrates the local business and tourism; Chang, Chih-cheng, from Changhua County, effectively implements migrated breeding methods to produce nontoxic, naturally and high quality honey, opening a new page for traditional honey production; speak of livestock and fisheries, Chen, Chu-mei, from Taoyuan County, makes good use of cross-breeding and fattening technology to establish coherent industrial chain; Wei, Chu-ting, from Miaoli County, fattens and breeds the only vegetarian species named “Health Chicken” by feeding means of scientific method in the county; Yang-Chia-yi, from Chiayi County, responds to “small landowner, large tenant” policy with forage cultivating and integrates the production, and marketing and channel for beef; Chou, Chih-liang, from Tainan City, insists upon raised eel, Taiwan tilapia and other aquatics farming with ecological methods, and successfully exports the products to the international market.

VIPs, media and people who are related attended the ceremony and the process thereof is warm and grand.

COA said that there are more than 200 people, including the 10 Shennong award winners, the 12 model farmers award winners and their families, staffs from counties (cities) government and farmers’ associations, experts from counseling agencies of COA and VIPs from businesses assist the grand occasion altogether, the process of the ceremony is warm and great.

COA stressed that by selecting and awarding 10 Shennong farmers can not only highlight their prominent performances and deeds, but also be able to hold up as model for farmers and to encourage them to break through the tradition, using knowledge and innovative technology to stimulate the overall development of Taiwan’s agriculture.