Page 42 - 2019 Annual Report Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan

Gestation: Enjoying the richness of the land Unit Three: Improving the Basic Environment
5. Training New Farmers and Diversifying Rural Labor
(1) Training new farmers
A. Strengthening training at the school side
In 2019 the COA continued to promote the "incentive program for high school students to go into agriculture," with participation by a total
Quarantine detector dogs intercept illegal agricultural products at airports.
of 91 classes at 34 schools. There was training in 14 subjects that included farm operations, horticulture, livestock health, aquaculture, agricultural machinery, and maritime affairs. We also held six publicly funded classes for university students to go into agriculture, training 201 people. The COA further promoted "agricultural career exploration," providing 437 students at nine universities with practical agricultural experience.
B. Applying guidance resources at the workplace side
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 589 benchmark
young farmers over five years. In addition, 4,764 young farmers had joined the platforms for exchanges of information among young farmers in 16 municipalities, cities, and counties.
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." In 2019 the Academy offered 166 classes, training 4,768 people.
In 2019 the COA provided subsidies to 56 of the "Top 100 Young Farmers" to purchase or update agricultural production and marketing facilities (equipment) in 110 cases, making it possible for agriculture to continue to be upgraded.
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 2019 more than 3,803 loans totaling over NT$5.17 billion had been given out. Of these, the "Top 100 Young Farmers" could take out loans with a maximum amount of NT$5 million and five years of subsidized interest payments. We also promoted the "loan for youths establishing agricultural businesses," and, based on practical needs, relaxed the criteria for loan applications. Through these loans, in 2019 the COA provided NT$2.133 billion in capital needed for farm operations to 1,682 young farmers. The number of loan recipients and the amount of loans increased by 57.05% and 48.45%, respectively, compared to 2018.
(2) Strengthening manpower guidance
A. The "Agricultural Elitist Training Project"
In 2019 the COA’s "Agricultural Elitist Training Project" sent 17 people abroad (15 for overseas study, two for short-term research), with expenditures for the project
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