To cope with rice imports, following Taiwan’s WTO accession and a 20 percent reduction in domestic agricultural subsidies, the COA took steps to affect adjustments in the production of rice, feed corn, sorghum and sugarcane which are cohered by the government’s guaranteed price scheme. To diversify the use of fallow rice paddies, the COA encouraged the producers to grow the crops that are unique locally and marketable, landscape plants, biofuels and green manure.

Following Taiwan’s accession to the WTO, the COA started to make adjustments in paddy and upland field utilization. Paddy fields were converted to other uses or fallowed to balance the supply and demand of rice as a major staple crop, and to comply with WTO regulations. Moreover, this measure helped stabilize the producers’ income and promote agriculture’s other vital functions. During the year, 216,843 hectares of paddy fields were planted with green manure, 4,271 hectares with ornamentals, and 2,343 hectares in Taipei County, Taoyuan County, Yunlin County and Tainan County with biofuels. About 39,420 hectares rotated with special crops of local significance. In line with this policy, the COA encouraged tree planting in fallowed paddy fields. This will expand green space in the plain area, contribute to ecology and develop recreational agriculture.