In coordination with the government’s “Golden Decade National Vision” and “Economic Stimulus” policies, and in accord with the COA’s own long-standing commitment to the principles of “Healthfulness, Efficiency, and Sustainability,” in 2012 the COA proposed the “Golden Corridor Project.” The Project is based on our recognition of the fine agricultural environment in the land running alongside the High Speed Railway (HSR) in Changhua and Yunlin counties, and takes into account existing policy resources. The COA’s draft plan for the Corridor was approved at an Executive Yuan meeting of December 13, 2013, and it will be implemented by the end of 2020.

The area of this Project will include farmland in Changhua County and Yunlin County, within 1.5 kilometers of the HSR track, affecting nine separate townships. It will be built on a foundation of the “three new’s” (new technologies, new farmers, new industries) and “two reductions” (reduced use of water, reduced use of energy). It will provide an operating environment for new agriculture, and lead the way in the development of economically viable and environmentally friendly agriculture with sustainable use of water and land.

The following paragraphs indicate the four main goals of the Project, as well as relevant important measures:

Developing low-water-consumption agriculture

The COA will promote dry-field agriculture and afforestation; play a guiding role in the construction of high-efficiency irrigation systems and waste-water recycling/ reuse systems; reduce drawing of ground water, and increase efficiency in the use of agricultural water resources.

Raising farmers’ incomes

We will pay guaranteed contracted prices for specified types of crops that require less water, and guide the development of industrial value chains for these crops; expand scales of operation and improve the manpower structure, thereby lowering costs;  in the future, will introduce energy-saving technology, green tourism, and other measures, in order to raise competitiveness.

Increasing Taiwan’s food self-sufficiency rate

We will promote especially low-water-consumption crops that will substitute for current imports, which will help us progress toward the goal of 40% food self-sufficiency.

Promoting development of diversified rural industries

In addition to continuing our efforts to raise the quality and sophistication of traditional agro-products, diversify marketing techniques and channels, and develop agro-tourism, the COA will (i) encourage private investment to build value chains that are water-saving, energy-saving, and inter-disciplinary; (ii) promote diversification of the rural economy; and (iii) play a leading role in innovating new profit opportunities in Taiwan’s agricultural sector.

As for anticipated benefits, this project is expected to: (1) save about 26.12 million metric tons of water per year; (2) stimulate 84,000 tourist visits in the surrounding area, with NT$43.68 million in tourism revenues; (3) promote agriculture that is high-tech, water-saving, and energy-saving, and has high economic value, thereby increasing competitiveness internationally for Taiwan’s agro-products as well as creating the possibility for exporting this technology; (4) train 1650 new generation farmers and diversify the rural job market; (5) use this new high-tech, water-saving agriculture to breed and grow import-substitution crops, thereby raising food self-sufficiency; (6) incorporate sustainability and “green” agriculture. In sum, the Golden Corridor Project promises to “power up” Taiwan’s entire rural economy.