Page 6 - 2018 Annual Report Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan

Upgrading the competitiveness of livestock, strengthening the effectiveness of animal and plant health inspection and quarantine In order to differentiate domestically produced meat from imported frozen meat products, the COA continued to promote a traceability system for domestic fresh pork and to sell temperature-controlled fresh pork, and guided the improvement of equipment at meat transport and sales locations. In addition, we promoted the reuse of livestock waste and expanded biogas power generation; in 2018 there was reuse of the biogas produced by the feces and urine of 1.453 million head of hogs. To eradicate foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), the COA continued to advance toward its goal of having Taiwan declared an “FMD- free country where vaccination is not practiced.” On July 1, 2018, vaccinations for FMD were completely halted on cloven- hoofed animals on Taiwan proper and in the Penghu and Matsu areas, and we entered the disease-monitoring stage. The COA also actively worked to prevent the cross-border transmission of African swine fever. In August of 2018, the COA created an “African Swine Fever Central Emergency Response Center.” We implemented a variety of disease-prevention measures, including strengthening of border controls, disseminating disease- prevention information to the general public, and strengthening domestic disease disaster preparedness. We also held a national inspection and quarantine exercise for African swine fever. The aim of these measures was to make the long-term battle against African swine fever more systematic and to reduce the impact on the hog industry. Promoting adjustment measures for the production and sale of agriproducts, developing “pro-active” agriculture In 2018 there was abundant production of fruits and vegetables. In order to reduce the frequency of imbalances between production and sales, with respect to important fruits and vegetables we set targets of exporting 10%, processing 10%, and direct sales of 10% of the total production volume of each type. We also devised relevant concrete strategies, including: (i) completion of an integrated search platform for information related to production and sales of fruits and vegetables, (ii) development and use of more kinds of processing, (iii) building of flagship logistics centers and regional cold chain systems, (iv) construction of a stabilization mechanism for production and sales of agriculture and food products, (v) increasing exports, and (vi) adjustment of the market structure and sales channels. These measures should help maintain stability in the price and volume of production and sales of agriproducts and ensure the incomes of farmers. In 2018 Taiwan exported a total of US$5.47 billion worth of agriproducts, an increase of US$490 million (9.8%) over 2017. Of this, exports of fresh fruit rose by 29.5% compared to 2017. In the future the COA will use the “Team Taiwan” concept and has chosen 23 types of farm products (including mangoes, edamame, and rice) as well as six types of aquatic products (including Taiwan tilapia and grouper) as “main point” products for export. We will (i) set up individual export platforms for each product as well as special teams responsible for promoting their export; (ii) provide comprehensive information on production and marketing of agriproducts; (iii) assist in resolving problems in any link in the export supply chain; and (iv) use comprehensive integrated marketing to explore new markets in places like New Southbound Policy partner countries, the Middle East, and Russia. This is what the COA means by developing “pro-active” agriculture. Alleviating the labor shortage and guiding new farmers, increasing value added In order to alleviate the shortage of agricultural labor, the COA has promoted a