TA I WA N ’ S A G R I C U LT U R E A N D T H E F U T U R E O F YO U N G FA R M E R S

BACK TO THE LAND?

AGRICULTURE AS A PROFESSION

• Socially less appealing in Asian cultures • Many farmers sell their land to support their children’s

education

• Demographics of farmers aging rapidly• No one to take over the field

• Agriculture on a decline• Government support• Trades

CROSS-STRAIT ALLIANCE

• Increase in Cross-strait cooperation to aid agricultural economy

• Trade allows exchange in techniques and species • Some argue that such trade is not beneficial for Taiwan’s

development

• China out-competing Taiwan in the global market

ROLE OF THE YOUNG GENERATION

• Taiwanese government should entice young entrepreneurs back into the business

• Incentives:• Low interest rates• Loans

• Create its own brand

• Globalization is key

ROLE OF THE YOUNG GENERATION

• Not a lot of incentives to convince the younger generation to return

• Chiang Bin Lun• Recent entrepreneur • Moved to Yilan County with a few friends• Agricultural business is much more complicated than he

imagined• Not an easy task to drop after a few months

TAIWANESE RICE FARMERS

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHVTuyUwK4E

• Accomplishments

• Guinness world record: largest number of people planting at once

TAIWANESE RICE FARMERS

• Old farmers

• Huang Min-liang• Problem: Older generation skills lost

• Chen Huo-teng• 96 year old farmer• Event good for agriculture

YOUNG GENERATION FARMERS

• Understand circumstances of going back to the farm

• Lack of funding • Less than $20,000 NTD a month, $700 USD

• No profit

• Different lifestyle

JAPANESE AGRICULTURE

• Similar to Taiwan, trying to boost the agricultural business

• Japanese government provided:• Subsidies, loans• Direct delivery channels• Location of farms• Media attention

• Scholars recommend that the Taiwanese government adopt these ideas

FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE

• The future rests in the hands of the younger generation

• Innovations, will to learn and improve

• Taiwan needs the initiative

• It’s time for the young generation to use their knowledge and help the agriculture business