Industrialized operations through production and marketing groups

　Through the end of 2008, there were a total of 6,184 production and marketing groups, which combine farmers from multiple small farms giving them the potential to go up against large-scale farms as united groups. The largest numbers of groups, 2,293, are focused on fruit trees, while there are 1,901 groups for vegetables, 427 for flowers, 348 for special crops, 299 for paddy rice, and 916 for other crops. A total of 115,790 farmers take part in this educational program. In 2008, 221 new groups were formed and 1,578 groups revised some member information. Of the 889 groups evaluated in 2008, 757 earned passing marks.

　The COA assisted 1,022 groups in passing the GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) vetting process, whose land measures 13,000 hectares and produces over 280,000 metric tons of crops a year. To integrate local culture and industry characteristics, the COA aided farmers associations and Taiwan Association of Daylily to provide guidance to the fruit, vegetables and special crop production and marketing groups under their jurisdiction to develop a variety of processed products using kumquat, passion fruit, persimmon, green plums, mustard plant, burdock, daylily, and coffee. The COA also provided consultation on improving agricultural processing facilities to increase the added value of agricultural products, meet customer needs, and stabilize the production and marketing of agro-products.

Development of human resources

　Rural villages are facing an exodus of young people and an aging population. In 2007, the average age of agricultural workers was 62 years old. A key task for the agricultural industry, therefore, is to revitalize the labor force and develop rural human resources.

　Invigorating the agricultural workforce

　The COA held agriculture experience activities, which brought young people aged 18 to 35 to rural villages to get hands-on experience in the fields and consider becoming new members of the agricultural workforce. Phase one consists of agricultural experience camps. A total of 63 were held attracting 1,402 attendees. Jointly held with the COA’s experimental farms and local educational institutions, the camps include an introduction to agricultural basics, farm internships, village experiences, and time on fishing vessels. The next phase is designed for those seriously considering entering the industry. This camp, focusing on advanced training, was held 23 times, with a total of 546 people in attendance. Students get additional training in areas of high earning potential such as vegetables, flowers, orchids, mushrooms, organic farming, recreational agriculture, medicinal and non-medicinal herbs, and fish farming. Of those taking the training, 94.9% were satisfied with the experience and 31.6% of attendees plan to enter the profession within the next 3 years. For young people who have already started careers in agriculture, the COA held workshops providing specialized training, assistance in obtaining loans, and technical consultation. Already 448 of the students have entered the industry. In addition, the COA has established an exclusive website that allows interested people to apply online for training. Through the website, 14 students were matched with farms for internships. The COA held a total of eight workshops on internet marketing, hosted two visits by blog writers and journalists, and assisted students in marketing their products. Area experimental farms have held seven meet and greet events to strengthen relationships among students and facilitate cooperation.

　In addition, the COA’s 12 experimental farms held 39 training sessions on agricultural production and technology. The 1,352 trainees receive a comprehensive understanding of agriculture, which assists in deciding whether or not they would like to pursue it as a career. For 438 students who already completed the basic training, the COA also held an advanced course 12 times, providing attendees with further technical skills. Graduates can receive information from the program’s mailbox and through the COA’s experimental farms. Students are eligible to apply for low-interest loans to begin their careers in agriculture.

　Rural community human resource development

　The key to rural regeneration rests on communities building consensus and supporting human resource development. With this in mind, the COA has designed a series of training courses based on the needs and characteristics of individual communities. Graduates of these courses will become leaders of rural village regeneration playing a vital role in planning the community, creating promotional strategies, and ushering in self-motivated community development. Local participation can best utilize the existing community human resources and establish mutual trust and cooperation. In 2008, the COA aimed to encourage Rural Regeneration Plan and create a culture of regeneration within existing rural communities by training a total of 8,381 people from 368 communities, enabling them to take on a larger role in building rural industry, protecting the environment, and improving quality of life through preserving local culture and beautifying their own villages.

 Narrowing the digital divide in agriculture

　To increase the speed of agricultural modernization, shrink the digital divide in agricultural education, and train a technology savvy labor force, the COA has created a series of digital learning opportunities. Of the 106 e-courses available, 16 are high-level agricultural digital courses that have been certified by the government. In 2008, the COA was awarded the digital education public service prize for the second year in a row and boasts more certified courses than any other department. At the same time, the COA set up an integrated training course with a digital learning environment and established an educational website to provide an avenue for diverse, easy-to-use, self-motivated learning. In 2008, 30% more people took advantage of this resource than in the previous year, with 3,030 people spending a total of 3,159 hours on the site.

Improving the lives of disadvantaged people

　In view of the increasingly female and elderly population of rural villages, the COA undertook to improve the livelihoods for women residents, assist the elderly in establishing healthy lifestyles, enhance health maintenance, and make preventative care more widely available.

　Empowering rural women

　In order to promote life-long learning, the COA has created an educational website to help rural women improve their life management skills and shrink the digital divide. Additionally, 242 agricultural associations received assistance in improving the 2,623 home economics courses they provide. In 2008, these courses educated women on domestically-produced nutritional products, nutrition and health maintenance, care giving for the sick and elderly, and ways to tap new sources of revenue while reducing expenses. In total, 59,500 women took part in the courses, better equipping themselves to make important family decisions. In addition, the COA held discussions, competitions, and speeches to expand the knowledge and abilities of the 3,032 home economics teachers holding the courses. Also, a total of 75 people received home healthcare training, better enabling them to care for the sick or elderly, while 1,439 people took part in home care management training courses. Of these, 247 have already found work in related fields, representing NT$35.94 million in additional income and benefits.

　Enhancing care for the elderly

　The COA implemented a variety of measures concerning elderly farmer retirement and health maintenance to improve quality of life for the aged. The COA provided consultation to the elderly and, under the small landlord, big tenant farmer program, we provided 196 life improvement courses teaching 10,339 elderly students personal health management and life skills. In areas lacking skilled home care providers, local community centers trained 785 volunteers to visit and monitor 688 elderly rural residents living alone. The volunteers made a total of 11,374 phone calls and provided 11,007 instances of care or counseling.

Transformation of farmers’ and fishermen’s groups

　Enhancing management of farmers’ and fishermen’s associations

　In preparation for the farmers’ and fishermen’s association elections held once every four years, the COA revised various election laws and produced documents and handouts related to the elections. In addition, we held 13 meetings to discuss election work and held four sessions to clarify election procedures. Farmers’ associations also received guidance in vetting potential executive position holders. A total of 45 farmers’ associations, including the one located in Shihmen Township, received assistance to develop economic services, while six associations, including that of Nantou County, were inputted into the Corporate Identity System. The farmers’ association of Renai Township was among 26 such associations receiving consultation to further develop their promotional and educational programs. In November, the COA held the Made in Taiwan – Agricultural and Fishery Product Show at the National Taiwan University Sports Center to promote quality domestic agricultural and fishery products.

　In order to enhance the state of fishing operations and improve lives in fishing villages, the COA reviewed current laws governing fishermen’s associations to increase their efficiency. These associations also received consultation on ways to implement innovative practices and become financially self-sufficient. The acts and general regulations related to irrigation associations’ organization and Regulation of Personnel Administration were also reviewed and revised to raise their operations and capabilities to an even higher level. To further improve operations, the COA assessed association activities and staff training. At the same time, the irrigation associations also receive guidance in developing water resource related industries to improve their financial situations, enabling them to provide more elaborate services.

　Enhancing agricultural financial institutions

　The COA continues to promote financial supervisory and consultation measures to ensure healthy operations and practices at agricultural financial institutions. By the end of 2008, the credit departments of the farmers’ and fishermen’s associations held NT$1.3664 trillion in savings, made NT$736.9 billion in loans and earned NT$3.815 billion in profits. Non-performing loans totaled NT$38.0 billion, making up 5.16% of all loans, a reduction of NT$7.1 billion or 1.09% over 2007. These figures clearly show that the centralized management of Taiwan’s agricultural financing organizations is effective and is producing significant outcomes.

　Through a careful review of the management teams, local farming population, and distribution of area financial institutions as dictated by law, the COA allowed 12 farmers’ associations to reestablish credit bureaus, helping to meet the financial needs of local agriculture.

　To develop the agricultural industry, a total of NT$37.6 billion was appropriated as special loans to finance farmers’ associations. In order to provide the funds needed by farmers’ and fishermen’s organizations, an additional NT$250 million was appropriated to the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Fund. The COA assisted 40,000 fishermen and farmers to successfully obtain NT$18.9 billion in loans. A computer-based accounting system was designed and implemented to improve agricultural loan management.

　In order to promote the exchange of information, the COA, the Agricultural Bank of Taiwan, and four farmers and fishermen association’s information centers established the National Agriculture, Fishery, and Finance Information Center in 2007. In December 2008, the Southern Information Center also was approved to join. As organizations become more integrated, the easy flow of information between groups will soon become a reality.