Page 78 - 2018 Annual Report Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan

Collective Dining The Language of Food Unit 3: Building Food Security and Agriproduct Safety Systems (OFWG). Achievements of the “Action Plan” were incorporated into Paragraph 64 of the “APEC Ministerial Chair’s Statement,” affirming the contributions that Taiwan’s promotion of the plan has made to regional food security. Upgraded structurally reinforced net houses and greenhouses increase the survivability of fruit and vegetable crops. With the optimized production environment of facilities agriculture, farmers can produce high quality and safe fruits and vegetables. Promotion of reinforced net house and greenhouse facilities increases the survivability of fruits and vegetables. (3) Promoting reinforced facilities agriculture In order to reduce the impact of climate change, strengthen the adaptability of fruits and vegetables to natural disasters, provide high-quality agriproducts, and stabilize the balance between production and sales, the COA has been promoting a facilities agriculture program running from 2017 to 2021. The target is to guide farmers to build 2,000 hectares of structurally reinforced greenhouses over this period. Based on the “Subsidy Standard of COA- Authorized Program,” the COA can subsidize 50% of costs in western Taiwan and 60% in eastern Taiwan, offshore islands, and Aboriginal communities. Maximum subsidies range from NT$1 million to NT$7.8 million per hectare depending upon the type of structures built. This program has been combined with facilities agriculture insurance, so that those applying for subsidies for “structurally reinforced greenhouse facilities” must also participate in facilities agriculture insurance for at least three years (with one-half of premiums subsidized to a maximum of NT$50,000 per hectare) in order to spread farmers’ operational risks. The COA has also assisted farmers in applying for policy- oriented special-case loans to reduce the burden of investment costs. The COA has guided the construction of reinforced greenhouse facilities on 318 hectares. We have combined this 76