For a long time, rural villages are facing the exodus of young forces coupling with aging population. During 2005, the average age of farmers in farming and livestock sub-sectors was 61 years of age. Employed population aged over 55 steadily increased from 30.6% in 1990 to 42.9% in 2005. In view that the aging and quality of agricultural work force shall influence the adoption of new technologies and new concepts, and its impacts, the COA has incorporated the revitalization of agricultural work forces into the New Agriculture Movement, hoping to influx new life into the traditional agriculture in order to cope with recent development of diversified and innovative agricultural technologies, and to speed up the modernization of agriculture.

1. Wandervögel project

The Wandervögel movement was originated in Germany in the late 19 ^th century. It was a back-to-nature movement that combined education and recreation for an entire young generation. The COA has emulated this movement to attract young people to be part of the agricultural manpower by creating the Wandervögel project. The project provides stepwise training camps for the age group of 18 to 35 to experience, learn and participate in agriculture, so they can be closer to agriculture, know about agriculture, and identify with agriculture. Hopefully, they can be “resident birds” in agriculture at the end.

The 42 training camps of the first phase held in seven DARES have attracted 836 participants in total. Among these participants, 91% were satisfied with the project activities, 88% expressed their interest in joining the management of agriculture, 53% expressed their strong interest, and 82 participants have already taken part in agricultural work. The four advanced training camps of the second phase held in the COA's Seed Improvement and Propagation Station have attracted 137 participants. The training classes focused on vegetable production under protective structures, potted flowers, orchids and mushrooms. The classes of the third phase were geared for those young people who are involved in the management of agriculture. The classes focused on the upgrade of specialized knowledge, assistance in loan, and consultation. Besides, a website (http://academy.coa.gov.tw/) was constructed to serve as a platform for information sharing and registration for the camps. The project also conducted six seminars at six different universities with more than 5,000 students and faculty members attended, and two forums on the cultural aspects of the project.

2. Master gardeners project

The master gardeners project was initiated in August 2006. There were 3,343 applicants but not all were accepted. During the year, the COA's Agricultural Research Institute and Livestock Research Institute each conducted five training camps, whereas Agricultural Chemicals and Toxic Substances Research Institute and Tea Research and Extension Station each conducted four training camps. In total, 687 participants completed their training.

To enable the trainees to further understand opportunities and potentials of agricultural development, the 42-hour curriculum included agricultural policy, governmental service statutes on agricultural management, enterprise development, new technologies, production and marketing groups, field visits and experience sharing with the successful farmers.

Among those trainees who completed the training program, 97% of them were satisfied with the training activities, 91% of them satisfied with the curriculum, and 44% of them expressed their strong desire to engage in the management of agriculture. The COA’s Agriculture and Food Agency, research institutes and extension stations also continue providing services and consultations for those who plan to engage in agriculture. Moreover, the COA has revised the regulations on farm land accession and capital fund to facilitate both “ Wandervögel ” and “mater gardeners” to engage in agriculture.

3. Deep plowing project

The deep plowing project targets on the agricultural managers by providing systematic education program on business administration. It is to develop elite human resources, to improve agricultural management, and to speed up the agricultural entrepreneurship. The curriculum of 42 training classes on business management of crop production, livestock and fishery covering quality control, food safety, business management for enterprising, and experience sharing with successful agricultural business managers. There were 1,564 farmers and fishermen participating in these training classes. The classes will be further refined in the future to assist, in a stepwise mode, the agricultural managers to accumulate management knowledge and to improve capacity. Likely the curriculum will be revised in accordance with the business nature, level of operation, and development needs, and management principles for different agricultural sub-sectors.