The Council of Agriculture organized a seminar on “Rice Policy” to review the present adjustment measures affecting the rice industry. This seminar was held on May 30 at the COA’s international conference hall and focus on for sustainable development for rice industry. As the seminar discussions paid on issues such as system of regulating rice price, rotating and reducing rice product, rice import management system, and assisted stabilizing the rice market etc. Opinions from all participants are to be collected to help formulate the rice policy for the purpose of boost Taiwan rice’s international competitiveness.

The COA indicates that rice is a most important agricultural product of Taiwan, rendering it critical to agriculture economy, food security, and ecology maintenance. Therefore, sustaining domestic rice industry development is the focus of implementation of the government. Since Taiwan has become a member of the WTO, it must face the pressure of market liberalization, and must from time to time deal with expanding importation. However, through the joint efforts of the government and all the farmers, it should be able reduce the impact to minimum. And the COA look forward to being able to continue working to realize “production, life, and ecology,” earnestly seeking agricultural transformation, pushing for relevant and compatible measures, and facilitate the transformation and adjustment for a series of agricultural production structure. In the end, it helps maintain the interest of farmer as well as secure development and vision of farm industry.

The COA says that the WTO’s Doha round of negotiation and the enlarging of unsettled, and there is likely to be further cut of tariff. The opening up of import quota of rice. Meanwhile, the support coming from within the country (agricultural subsidy, such as purchase of rice at protective price) is likely to be farther reduced. Therefore, the rice industry will again be confronted with challenge. At this stage, aside from the purchase system through protective rice price and the subsequent adjustment plan for rice paddies and dry rice fields, the government is promoting adjustment measures for the rice industry like rice import management system so as to raising the competitiveness of Taiwan rice. How to adjust adequately and what measures are effective for the future are issues should be put in place for discussion for the participating experts and scholars.

The COA stresses that the seminar will invite outstanding farmers, winners of rice competition, farmers’ associations, rice dealers’ representatives, and scholars from the government, industry, and academic circle of diverse expertise to attend. It is hoped that a consensus can be arrived as to serve as the important basis of the policy for the rice industry. It is also anticipated that a new blueprint for the sustainable development of Taiwan’s rice industry will evolve, from this seminar and a new prospects for the Taiwan’s rice industry developed.