(1) An inventory of agricultural and farmland resources

1. In order to maintain a firm grasp of the situation with regard to use of farmland, the COA, after announcing the results of its “national inventory of agricultural and farmland resources” in September of 2017, continued in 2018 to do updating work on the inventory, establishing mechanisms and operating procedures for such updating, and built a data organizing and distribution platform, to collect and analyze agricultural and farmland information. At the same time, we developed an in-situ survey system to simplify the tasks of in-situ surveys and reporting by local governments. To implement this work, we published a handbook on updating of the agricultural and farmland resources inventory, to serve as a reference for periodic future updates.
2. The updating of the agricultural and farmland resources inventory in 2018 was based on 2.79 million hectares of agricultural land, and corrected the data on all kinds of land use. In terms of farming, corrections were based on registration or guidance data, assisted by confirmation through in-situ surveys and data from satellite images. For example, to inventory the distribution pattern of crops, we continued to use analysis of the satellite images as taken by the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute as the foundation, while using the agricultural survey data of the Agriculture and Food Agency as a supplement in assisting in the categorization of land use. As for the inventory of aquaculture ponds, the COA based its updates on about 12,733 hectares in 47 aquaculture production zones and on 412 hectares in five concentrated fish farm zones, and used satellite images and aerial photography to monitor the use of land for aquaculture. With respect to the inventory of land used to raise livestock, we used mainly livestock farms which had been registered, and matched this data with livestock management inspection data to get an up-to-date understanding of the land use situation. In terms of the leisure farms inventory, we used mainly leisure farms which had been issued registration certificates before the end of 2017 in order to grasp the area of facilities for such farms. As for data on farmland being used for nonagricultural purposes, the COA updated the inventory by collecting cross-ministerial data, such as (i) provisional factory registration data from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and (ii) national land use survey data, detections of variations of land use (change areas) by satellite imagery, and survey data of illegal use of land from the Ministry of the Interior. In addition, we used data collected each quarter by municipal, city, and county governments on non-agricultural uses of farmland, and clarified some unclear farmland uses by in-situ surveys.
3. When the updating of the national agricultural and farmland resources inventory is completed, the results will be released on the “searchable map of the results of the national agricultural and farmland resources survey,” for the reference of all interested parties. In addition, the updated data will be provided to municipal, city, and county governments so they can use it as the foundation for land use planning such as demarcating agricultural development zones and determining guidance strategies for agricultural industries, in order to (i) ensure the appropriateness of the spatial development of industries and (ii) make it possible to attain the policy goal of prioritizing inputs of agricultural policy resources.

(2) Maintaining the quantity and quality of irrigation water

Irrigation construction is inseparable from agricultural development and the well-being of farmers. By using irrigation and drainage facilities and related water management technology, the COA can transport and distribute irrigation water and improve farmland drainage, in order to minimize harm from droughts and floods, stabilize the production of food, and reduce losses from natural disasters, thereby upholding the rights and interests of farmers.

In 2018, the COA: (i) renovated or improved 248 kilometers of irrigation anddrainage channels; (ii) completed 616 infrastructure items (projects/structures); (iii) renovated or improved irrigation canals on 1,201 hectares of “consolidated farmland” and “early-phase consolidated farmland”; (iv) assisted farmers in installing water-saving equipment, such as spray irrigation and drip irrigation, on 2,201 hectares of land; (v) undertook renovations or improvements on automated water-testing systems in 26 locations; (vi) guided local irrigation associations to do 39,760 tests of the quality of irrigation water; (vii) continued to promote the “plan for maintaining the quality of agricultural irrigation water”; (viii) reduced industrial effluent from 37 factories, thereby reducing the risk of pollution of irrigation water; (ix) effectively brought into play the three sheng (production [shengchan ], daily life [shenghuo ] and the ecology [shengtai ]) and disaster-prevention or disastermitigation functions of irrigation; and (x) completed improvement of 353 kilometers of emergency irrigation canals in “consolidated farmland” areas, thereby ensuring the smoothness of flow in irrigation canals in these areas. All these measures improved the operational environment for farming as well as the quality of life in rural areas.

(3) Maintaining agricultural environmental resources and safety

　Ａ.Construction of a system for “Largescale Landslide Disaster Prevention and Mitigation under Climate Change”

In 2018, the COA did the tasks of“strengthening response capabilities for large-scale landslides,” “constructing a smart disaster prevention system for largescale debris flow disasters,” “increasing the effectiveness of management of largescale debris flow disasters,” and “refining resource conservation in large-scale debris flow disasters.”

The COA also did multi-scale monitoring of, and study of, large-scale landslides, and created a mechanism for monitoring their occurrence by using (i) interpretation of the images from satellites, (ii) surface displacement observation and monitoring, and (iii) on-site monitoring. We also delineated the impact range of large-scale landslides, and did a census of the persons to be protected within these impact ranges. Moreover, the COA set large-scale landslide warning thresholds and management thresholds based on the monitoring data, for reference in future evacuations from high-risk disaster areas. Further, in order to stay abreast of international large-scale landslide research and disaster mitigation technology, we invited scholars from home and abroad and held an “International Workshop on Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Technology for Large-Scale Landlsides.” We also held a joint barrier lake exercise (with the COA’s Soil and Water Conservation Bureau and Forestry Bureau as well as the Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs participating), in order to build a crisis and risk management mechanism. In 2018, the COA undertook 16 infrastructure projects, completed impact range demarcation in 10 locations, completed an inventory of the protection of 673 structures, conducted evaluations of the appropriateness of land use over 142,000 hectares, and conducted education work and citizen participation involving a total of 4,952 participants.

　B. Comprehensive mountain management and disaster prevention

Based on the concepts of overall planning and management of watersheds, and taking into account the principles of national land restoration—including respect for nature and not resisting the forces of nature—in 2018 the COA implemented disaster prevention and mitigation measures including debris flow disaster prevention, conservation of reservoir watersheds, regional soil and water conservation, construction of green environments, and management of “designated soil and water conservation areas.” The objectives of these measures were to conserve soil and water resources, protect water sources, improve the surrounding scenery, avoid or mitigate disasters, maintain the safety of slopeland, and encourage the rational use of land. The COA also undertook 483 construction projects for conservation management in important reservoir watershed areas and for debris flow disaster prevention, stabilizing about 7.52 million cubic meters of soil. We also completed 15 watershed survey projects. The result of all these policies was to prevent or mitigate damage from debris flow disasters and to conserve soil and water resources.

Moreover, the COA improved emergency roads outside of consolidated farmland areas. Taking the roads most in need of improvement as the focus, we conducted 413 construction projects and improved about 246 kilometers of road, on which the COA strengthened soil and water conservation facilities, maintained slope stability, and improved road drainage facilities, in order to maintain the stability of the road bed and smoothness of traffic flow.

　C. Comprehensive river basin management

The Yilan, Changhua, Yunlin, Chianan, and Pingtung Irrigation Associations undertook 26 construction projects for improvement of farmland drainage, improving about 23.77 kilometers of drainage channels and building 21 water management structures, thereby reducing the threat of flooding on 2,061 hectares of farmland prone to inundation. The COA also undertook soil and water conservation in upstream slopeland along rivers and regional drainage systems that were under the charge of municipalities, cities, and counties within the scope of the “Comprehensive River Basin Management Plan.” We a l s o handled mountain management and flood prevention in Aboriginal townships. In Phase 2 of this Plan (2016-2017), total expenditures for soil and water conservation were NT$2.8 billion, while expenses in 2018 were NT$1.432 billion. In 2018, we handled 218 conservation and management construction projects, effectively stabilizing 1.6 million cubic meters of soil.

The COA also implemented projects for (i) management of watersheds, (ii) mountain　management and flood prevention, and (iii) torrent management and handling of landslides, all three of which were for national forest compartments in Aboriginal townships. For Phase 3 (2018-2019) the total budget is NT$589.8 million, of which expenditures in 2018 were NT$289.8 million. In 2018, the COA completed 23 construction projects for mountain management and　flood prevention, restored about 15.17 hectares of landslides, and stabilized　492,500 cubic meters of soil. This means that the COA has taken the first steps　toward overall management of watersheds in river basins, reducing potential damage from debris flow and flooding.

Since 2014 the COA has handled agricultural disaster mitigation and construction project management as well as non-construction measures to ensure the security of food crops and improve the production environment in vegetable- producing areas. As for disaster mitigation measures, we selected 14 important vegetable-producing locations, and by the end of 2018 had guided the installation of vegetable production and disaster mitigation facilities (equipment) on over 220 hectares, and held 15 training sessions in disaster mitigation by farmers themselves. As for construction project management measures, the COA implemented a total of 17 approved projects for (i) fruit and vegetable growing areas with facilities for production and disaster mitigation and (ii) the improvement of farmland drainage bottlenecks.

The work schedule for “aquaculture drainage” under the Comprehensive River Basin Management Plan covers 2014 through 2019 (a total of six years, divided into three phases of two years each). Expected expenditures for the six years were NT$2.537 billion, and as of the end of 2018 total expenditures were NT$2.341 billion. The scope of “aquaculture drainage” tasks includes (i) improvement of the management of drainage connections and (ii) flood mitigation guidance, which were done in aquaculture production zones and concentrated fish farm zones in Yilan County and six other cities and counties. Through the “project for improvement of management of drainage connections for flood prevention,” we reduced aquaculture areas prone to inundation by 2,611.45 hectares. In terms of “flood mitigation guidance measures,” a total of 6,842.59 hectares of aquaculture zones have gained increased protection. It is hoped that we can accelerate the reduction of the threat of flooding in areas prone to inundation and protect aquaculture production, thereby assisting regional development.

　D. Dredging of torrents

Unstable slopes and torrents often lead to channel fill deposit caused by earthquakes and typhoons. In 2018, in order to reduce losses of life and property among citizens, the COA managed 51 torrent dredging projects. We cleared away 2,605,600 cubic meters of soil, restoring the capacity of these torrents to drain floodwater

The COA continued, on the basis of the strategies and methods in the “Program to Strengthen Dredging in Rivers, Torrents, and Reservoirs,” and with attention to torrent management and dredging in national forest, to manage torrents and handle landslides (i) at bottleneck sections of rivers urgently in need of attention and (ii) at important areas where infrastructure or the safety of Aboriginal communities can be affected. We observed the principle of “dredge in the right places, dredge at the right times” and had a firm grasp on the progress of the work. The goal for 2018 was set at 1.2 million cubic meters, but in fact the COA actually dredged 1,477,700 cubic meters, exceeding the original target.

　E. Debris flow monitoring and disaster prevention

The COA announced 1,719 rivers and waterways across Taiwan that have the potential for debris flow, and reexamined updating the threshold value for debris flow warnings. We also updated (i) the “2018 debris flow natural disaster evacuation plans” for 687 communities in 153 townships in 17 counties and cities and (ii) the “list of persons to be protected in the impact range of rivers with potential for debris flow,” listing data on 46,630 people to be protected near such rivers.

In 2018, the COA trained 356 specialists in debris flow natural disaster prevention, and currently there are 2,866 such specialists across Taiwan. We also assisted local governments at all levels in debris flow disaster prevention work including autonomous rain volume measurement, disaster situation reporting, and identifying per sons who need protection and evacuation. We also promoted “independent disaster prevention communities 2.0,” holding war games for 194 communities and holding actual exercises in 30 others, for a total of 224 communities.

The COA also completed work related to instrument testing and operational maintenance for 66 debris flow observation stations, as well as construction of 63 slopeland automated rain volume measuring stations, raising the total of automated rain volume measuring stations to 511. We also released debris flow warning information to local governments for reference.

　F. Mountain management and disaster prevention in watersheds in national forest

Taking the watershed as the unit of management, and based on the results of risk surveys and evaluations of landslides and watersheds in national forest, and aiming at the same time to deal with disasters caused by typhoons, in 2018 the COA appropriated NT$505 million to complete 112 construction projects (i) to handle landslides in upstream sections of national forest; (ii) to build sedimentation-prevention infrastructure; and (iii) to conduct maintenance and emergency response measures. We handled a total of 91.56 hectares of landslides, did maintenance work on forest roads and slope management over 117.63 kilometers, and stabilized about 3,127,400 cubic meters of soil from shifting downward. These steps will allow restoration of forest land as quickly as possible and ensure safety in national forest. In addition, starting in 2018, all management construction projects under the Forestry Bureau have included an ecological impact mechanism, with the ecology taken into account throughout the life cycle of the project.

　G. Monitoring and management of slopeland

Categorizing and defining slopeland by the limitations on its permissible use, and setting norms for agricultural activities on slopeland, in 2018 the COA completed inspection and definition of 10,144 hectares. We have also demarcated “designated soil and water conservation areas,” for which we devise long-term soil and water conservation plans. In 2018 the COA conducted an across-the-board review of the plan for one such area, and eliminated two other areas.

The COA gave approval in 2018 to soil and water conservation plans (including simplified soil and water conservation statements) in 4,987 cases of development and use of slopeland, and inspected ongoing work 2,939 times. We had 4,229 cases of land surface changes monitored by satellite, and we conducted investigation, reporting, and a crackdown on illegal use of slopeland in 2,283 cases, with fines totaling NT$95.16 million and 130 cases sent for prosecution in the legal system. We also strengthened knowledge among citizens of ways to maintain safety in the development and use of slopeland.

(4) Promoting sustainable fisheries with habitat protection

　A. Cultivation and protection of marine fisheries resources and monitoring of vessel movements in the coastal fishing industry

On October 1, 2015, the European Union (EU), acting on the basis of Council Regulation 1005/2008 on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, placed Taiwan on the list of “Yellow Card” countries that are not cooperating in combating IUU. The reasons they gave for doing this were that: (i) Taiwan’s fisheries legal framework had loopholes; (ii) punishment mechanisms were unable to deter IUU fishing; and (iii) Taiwan was unable to exert effective management of its distant-water fishing fleet. Taiwan has, with respect to the 11 action plans recommended by the EU, adopted a variety of improvement measures under the four facets of “legal framework,” “monitoring, control, and surveillance” (MCS), “traceability,” and “international cooperation.” We will follow up by enforcing these various measures, in order to combat IUU fishing and cultivate and protect marine resources.

The COA has gathered information about fishing vessel operations through the Fisheries Monitoring Center. In 2018, we increased monitoring manpower and upgraded the functions of the whole system, including the following: We completed (i) an alert mechanism for fishing vessels whose “Vessel Monitoring Systems” (VMS) have not reported back or which have not installed E-logbooks or whose E-logbooks have not reported back, (ii) an alert mechanism for fishing vessels in potentially problematic ports, Exclusive Economic Zones, and ocean regions, and (iii) an alert mechanism for catch quotas. We also developed new functions including alerts for when fishing vessels enter designated ports without prior notification of transshipment or landing of catch, monitoring potential unauthorized transshipments of catch at sea, and alerts when the time limits for Transshipment Notification or Landing Declaration are reached. These have effectively upgraded the effectiveness of the management of Taiwan’s fishing vessels.

We also guided fishing vessels engaged in coastal fishing to install “Voyage

Data Recorders” (VDRs), in order to collect information about the movements of fishing vessels. We use this data as a reference for calculating fuel subsidies, assisting in fisheries administration, clarification of responsibility for at-sea incidents, and scientific research.

　B. The mechanism for retiring harmful fishing gear and fishing methods from use

In 2018 the COA continued to promote demarcation of areas where gill-net fishing is banned and to guide operators in the gill-net fishing industry to shift over to other kinds of fishing methods, as well as assisted municipal, city, and county governments to demarcate areas where gill-net fishing is banned based on the special features of the seas under their jurisdiction. We have already guided the governments of Keelung City and 10 other cities and counties to define the scope of management of the gill-net fishing industry, and have guided 1,400 fishing vessels (rafts) that had been engaged in gill-net fishing to switch over to other forms of fishing such as pole-and-line fishing and line trawling. The COA has also been clearing away abandoned fishing nets in manmade and natural reef areas. In 2018 we cleared 14 reef areas, aiming to maintain the habitat and environment of Taiwan’s coastal seas.

(5) Maintaining forest environmental resources

　A. Tree-planting, afforestation, and combating illegal logging

Given the primary condition of preserving the nation’s land resources, the COA continued to do (i) forest resources monitoring and surveys, (ii) inspections and definition of protected forest, (iii) nurturing of manmade forest, and (iv) protection of enterprise zones in national forest. Such measures ensure the service value of forest ecological systems.

In 2018 the COA completed 1,276.97 hectares of afforestation, thinned 321.87 hectares of forest, and produced 39,000 cubic meters of lumber. We also set operational norms to promote operations in public and private forest, and reassessed the incentives policy for afforestation in order to raise self-sufficiency in wood production.

To deter illegal logging, the COA strengthened the horizontal communications of the “police, prosecutors, and Forestry Bureau platform.” We also introduced advanced devices like micro cameras and remote monitoring systems, and worked together with communities and indigenous settlements under the “plan to work with communities to strengthen forest conservation work,” thereby effectively strengthening forest conservation work.

The COA’s Taiwan Forestry Research Institute (i) implemented the “research project for monitoring of afforestation”; (ii) promoted management strategies for the effective use and operation of existing afforestation land; (iii) developed a short-rotation afforestation model; (iv) conducted an evaluation of the value of plains afforestation in environmental education and ecological services; and (v) developed non-lumber forestry products, forest sharing, and wood fuel for green energy.

　B. Developing the under-forest economy suited to specific areas

Acting within the principles of maintaining forest vegetation and not using weed- or pest-killing pesticides or chemical fertilizers, the Forestry Bureau and the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute (TFRI) have already listed technical norms for forest byproducts including “forest bee-raising,” “mountain litsea,” “Taiwan jewel orchid,” and “wood mushroom and fungus.” The Forestry Bureau has already promoted relaxation of land management rules, and in the future will set norms for inspecting operations, in order to promote use of forest land.

In addition, the TFRI assisted the Forestry Bureau to guide the “Hualien Shuilian Forestry Cooperative” and the “Forest Farmers of Sanzhuku, Taitung” to develop the under-forest economy for cultivation of shiitake with wood logs. An estimated 30 metric tons of wood was used for shiitake cultivation.

　C. Promoting conformance of productive forest management with the norms of the Forest Stewardship Council

In order to encourage eco-friendly, socially beneficial, and economically feasible sustainable forest management, the COA has pro-actively introduced Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) norms into national forest management. We have developed technology for eco-friendly forestry operations, and in the future will promote a demonstration area and use this area for practical training. In addition, in order to continue to guide forest farmers to follow FSC norms, we have already finalized the “standards for subsidizing one-half of fees for forestry cooperatives to apply for certification from the FSC.”

　D. Promoting environmental education

Nature Centers around Taiwan provided high quality learning opportunities about the forest environment for more than 100,000 people in 2018. In addition, using the Learn, Forest—Collection of Forest Environmental Education Teaching Material books as the foundation, the COA trained 280 seed educators to promote forest environmental education. Moreover, we worked together with local governments, non-governmental organizations, communities, and businesses to promote citizen participation in the operations management of protected forest, so that everyone can share the service value of forest ecological systems.

　E. Promoting nature conservation

In order to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, in 2018 the COA ensured the integrity of 85 protected areas, conducted 9,229 habitat patrols, discovered and eliminated hunting equipment in 409 cases, conducted nine preventions of invasive species, and rescued and provided medical treatment to 6,089 animals of protected species being illegally smuggled. Also, care and medical treatment were given to 5,200 wild animals by the animal shelters of municipalities, cities and counties, and there were 434 “virtual identifications” of wildlife. The COA also handled 245 cases of beached whales, dolphins, and sea turtles. We have also worked with religious groups to operate four areas for the release of captive animals into the wild. In addition, the COA approved 245 applications from local governments for subsidies to guide farmers to undertake demonstration projects for prevention of damage to agriculture by Formosan macaques.

The interministerial “National Land Ecological Green Network Program” was launched in 2018, to expand the scope of protection for habitats outside of protected areas, and ensure the sound development of Taiwan’s ecology as a whole. The COA completed: (i) supplementary surveys for 3,783 items of wildlife data, (ii) more than 1,500 hectares of productive habitat-friendly area, and (iii) 60 hectares of ecological afforestation, as well as (iv) protected more than 15 endangered species. We also built or improved three animal trails, strengthening the link between forest and seacoast, and created corridors for important ecological areas, so that both local communities and the environment can thrive.

In addition, in coordination with the restructuring of the organization of the government, as of April 18, 2018, responsibility for marine conservation work was transferred to the Ocean Affairs Council.

(6) Promoting a win-win situation for agriculture and green energy

In coordination with the promotion of the national renewable energy policy, and in order to develop both agriculture and green energy at the same time, the COA has developed a green energy policy based on “agriculture in the main, green energy as value-added.” Under the premise of ensuring food security and sustainable use of farmland resources, we have created the following win-win situations for agriculture and power generation:

1. Encouragement of solar energy rooftops on livestock and poultry buildings: In coordination with municipal, city, and county governments, the COA has been promoting green energy facilities attached to the rooftops of livestock and poultry buildings, subsidizing solar power panels attached to these rooftops. This measure can help to upgrade poultry and livestock buildings and increase farmers’ incomes. As of the end of 2018, a total capacity of 746 MW had been installed.
2. Experimentation with and promotion of combining fish farming and energy production: The COA has been promoting the installation of solar power panels on the rooftops of indoor recirculating aquaculture facilities, introducing technological aquaculture models so that aquaculture and energy production enjoy mutual benefits. There are already two successful examples in Tainan City (in the Xuejia District and the Dongshan District). We have also promoted the combination of fish ponds and solar power, constructing a demonstration farm where a hard clam aquaculture area at the Taixi Experimental Fishing Ground was mounted with photovoltaic panels. The COA also set up work teams within municipal, city, and county governments and finalized the “Directions of Proposing and Reviewing the Project of Aquaculture Management Combined with Green Energy Facilities” and the “Directions of Aquaculture Management Combined with Green Energy Facilities.”
3. Combining agricultural water resources with green energy: On January 1, 2008, the COA finalized the “Administrative Principle of Solar Power Facilities Installed by Irrigation Associations on Irrigation Ponds.” We continued to guide irrigation associations to install photovoltaic cells over ponds and irrigation and drainage channels, thereby bringing into play the multiple values of irrigation and power generation. As of the end of 2018, the Taoyuan, Shimen, Chianan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung irrigation associations had completed such work at 22 locations, with installed capacity of 36.94 MW.
4. Simultaneous consideration of farm crop production and green energy: The COA encouraged the installation of solar power panels on rooftops of crop production and marketing facilities, such as distribution and packaging venues. As of the end of 2018 the installed capacity was 89 MW. We are taking care of both crop production and renewable energy generation, and still are promoting agrivoltaic farms (which means the dual use of a traditional operating farm for both solar panels and cultivation). At present, 135 MW of solar power have been installed on the rooftops of greenhouses.

(7) Sustainable development of rural human resources

　A. Training of new farmers

(a) Strengthening training at the school end In 2018 the COA continued to promote the “plan for incentives for high school students to go into agriculture,” with participation by a total of 69 classes at 34 schools. There was training in subjects that included farm operations, horticulture, livestock health, aquaculture, and farm machinery, allowing high school students to come into contact with agriculture early on and increasing the willingness of these students to work in agriculture. We also held five publicly funded classes for university students to go into agriculture, training 176 people. The COA further encouraged students at agricultural schools to undertake “agricultural career exploration,” providing students at nine universities with practical agricultural experience, with 437 people doing internships on farms.

(b) Applying guidance resources at the workplace end The COA has continued to promote guidance of the “Top 100 Young Farmers,” providing two years of individualized one-on-one guidance as well as education in land use, facilities subsidies, product certification, sales, and marketing to a total of 465 benchmark young farmers over four years. In addition, 4,138 young farmers had joined the platforms for exchanges of information among young farmers in 16 municipalities, cities, and counties.

The COA also amended the “Directions of Loan for Youths Establishing Agricultural Businesses,” lowering the interest rate to 0.79%. As of the end of 2018 more than 2,000 loans totaling over NT$2.8 billion had been given out. Of these, the “Top 100 Young Farmers” could take out loans with a maximum amount of N$5 million and five years of subsidized interest payments.

(c) Establishing a learning network, improving the management skills of young farmers

The COA integrated the instructional resources of all of its District Agricultural Research and Extension Stations and laid out a curriculum for the “Farmers’ Academy,” providing diversified and systematic training and online learning courses. In 2018 the Academy offered 164 classes, training 5,019 people.

　B. Strengthening manpower guidance

(a) The “Agricultural Elitist Training Project” The COA organized five large classes offering elitist training in 2018, with 200 people attending. The COA also selected four students to go to Europe, the US, and Japan to study for their PhDs in ecological aquaculture, sustainable development of rural communities, and crop production, and sent three more people abroad to do short-term research related to seedling and crop production. In addition, through international academic exchanges, cross-disciplinary scientific research, and training in the operations of technology-based agribusinesses, the COA offered opportunities for people to get practical experience and upgrade management capabilities. In all we selected 32 people to be sent abroad for education or short term research, thereby cultivating an agricultural elite.

(b) Use of overseas Chinese and foreign manpower

In conformance with the New Southbound Policy, the COA has recruited young people from New Southbound Policy partner countries to come to Taiwan to take agriculture-related courses in universities or colleges combined with agricultural career exploration. We also made it possible for these students to do part-time agricultural work outside of class or during the winter or summer holidays, strengthening exchanges between academia and manpower in agricultural industries, and upgrading the bilateral complementarity and cooperation between human resources from Taiwan and from New Southbound Policy partner countries.

(c) Exchanges and cooperation between young people in agriculture

The COA added overseas observation and study to guidance measures for young farmers, allowing them to engage in exchanges and cooperation in areas such as agricultural machinery, automation, agricultural clusters, cold chain systems, and processing of dairy products. We also built a platform for exchanges and cooperation between young people engaged in agriculture in Taiwan and in New Southbound Policy partner countries, enhancing the search for commercial opportunities for agriculture.

　C. Use of diversified agricultural labor

With “increasing the supply of manpower” and “reducing the demand for manpower” as the main strategies, the COA, based on a survey of the causes of the rural labor shortage, planned adjustment measures for rural labor such as “upgrading the efficiency of the use of manpower,” “introducing diversified labor,” “adjusting production-and-marketing operating procedures,” “introducing labor-saving agricultural machinery and equipment,” “promoting a platform for sharing of agricultural machinery,” and “integrating and promoting agricultural services,” in order to cope with the labor shortage.

In terms of “increasing the supply of manpower,” the COA organized various types of agricultural manpower teams including agricultural technical teams, agricultural cultivation teams, industrial expert teams, mechanized cultivation teams, and open-prison teams. We also cooperated with municipal, city, and county governments to form labor activation teams. Over the course of 2018 the COA formed 91 teams and recruited 1,935 workers who worked a total of 275,760 man-days and provided farm services on 13,652 occasions. As for the short-term high-volume demand for labor, we organized “holiday farmer” teams and encouraged students to work part-time on farms. We organized “holiday farmer” teams on 43 occasions, with 2,148 people participating. We provided incentives to 270 domestic and foreign students to work part-time on farms, and they provided a total of 9,733 man-days of service. These numbers demonstrate the COA’s commitment to recruiting diversified manpower for agricultural work.

In terms of “reducing the demand for manpower,” the COA formed mechanized cultivation teams in the Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli areas. We inventoried the industrial processes for tea, mixed staple crops, and vegetables and introduced needed agricultural machinery and operating models, and accompanied these steps with incentive measures for participation by farm labor. Through cooperation between man and machine the COA promoted the supply of mechanized cultivation services, creating an agricultural work environment with less need for labor. Over the course of 2018 we recruited 15 people who put in 1,588 man-days serving 20 farms and mechanically cultivating 274 hectares.

The COA also constructed the Agricultural Human Resources platform and APP to serve as a database for the supply of and demand for agricultural labor, providing them to 458 users from 320 operational units to implement manpower matching and assignment. A total of 5,873 farms filed over 30,000 labor requests, while 2,750 registered agricultural personnel were dispatched to jobs. Through the platform it was possible to do things like (i) verify whether the worker had started work or not; (ii) keep attendance records; and (iii) handle pay management, as the platform and APP provided digitized and mobile services.

(8) Putting animal protection into practice

　A. Source management of dogs and cats

As of the end of 2018, there were 115,598 newly registered dogs across the country, with the registration rate and the neutering rate for dogs at 69.75% and 60.49% respectively. The COA, working with the Ministry of the Interior, completed domicile registration for pets, with updating of data in 2,475,422 cases between September of 2017 and the end of 2018. The COA also worked with animal welfare groups and pet industry groups to guide owners to take lifelong responsibility for their pets, and put an end to abandonment of dogs. Moreover, we implemented a management mechanism for breeding by specified pet businesses, and in 2018, we investigated 15,640 cases of illegal breeding or buying and selling of dogs, handing out administrative punishments in 50 cases. The government also amended the “Animal Protection Act” twice, thereby (i) putting into effect the management of performing animal businesses and protection of performing animals, (ii) strengthening fines for owners who fail to take responsibility for their pets, and (iii) strengthening nationwide education in animal protection.

　B. Coordinating and adjustment measures for the “No Kill” policy at public animal shelters

(a) Based on the three major principles of legislation, education, and neutering, Taiwan’s policy for management of stray animals has included (i) owners taking lifelong responsibility for their pets and not abandoning them and (ii) control of breeding for dogs and cats, thereby reducing the production of stray animals at the source. Reducing strays also protects the safety of citizens and their property. As for cases of catching dogs, which are prioritized according to the level of public risk, the animals are placed in a shelter and citizens are actively encouraged to adopt them.

(b) In 2017 the government implemented the “No Kill” policy at public animal shelters, greatly reducing the number of animals euthanized. As of the end of 2018, the government had caught 19,731 animals, a reduction from the 23,608 caught in 2017. Governments at the municipal, city and county level, aiming to deal with the limited space available at shelters and to maintain the quality of life of animals in shelters, adjusted their dog-catching models to give priority to catching dogs that pose a risk to public safety.

(c) In response to the No Kill policy, the COA has devoted great effort to guiding municipalities, cities, and counties to strengthen control of the number of dogs by reducing the numbers at the source. In the short term, the COA has neuteured a large number of dogs and severely punished pet abandonment, in order to reduce the number of animals entering shelters and raise the adoption rate for animals in shelters, thereby upholding animal welfare.

　C. Humane management of economic and experimental animals

In 2018 the COA oversaw local governments in making inspections of transport and slaughtering operations on over 415 occasions, and held 38 lectures for animal transport personnel and slaughtering personnel, with 248 people earning lecture-attendance certification. Moreover, the COA continued to undertake education and training related to humane management at institutions that use animals for scientific applications and to proactively promote the principle of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement). We also held 87 onsite inspections of institutions that use animals for scientific applications.