Page 45 - 智慧韌性 農糧永續

農政興 物產豐
Agricultural Policies in Action

Enhancing the Rice Industry’s Competitiveness:
Stabilizing Market Supply and Demand

Since 2021, the AFA has promoted the “choose three crop
seasons out of four for cultivating paddy rice” for eligible farmland,
coupled with the Green Environmental Payment Program, to
encourage rice farmers to grow non-rice crops or leave fields
fallow for at least one out of four consecutive growing seasons.
This approach helps prevent issues associated with continuous
rice cultivation—the intensification of pests and diseases and
uneven soil fertility—thereby reducing farmers’ fertilizer and
pesticide costs. The rice cultivation area has decreased by an
average of over 10,000 hectares per year compared to the period
before implementation, helping optimize rice cultivation areas and
stabilize market supply and demand.

The AFA guides the establishment of specialized zones for group-based contract rice
farming and marketing, promotes comprehensive rice crop insurance, and introduces a
traceability certification system to enhance the industry’s competitiveness. The agency promotes
rice education in elementary, junior high, and senior high schools, integrating knowledge about
rice nutrition and culture into the curriculum to strengthen awareness of local production for
local consumption. The AFA supports the mass production of award-winning rice dishes from
cooking competitions for sales in convenience stores and hypermarkets. The agency expands
retail channels and market reach through exhibitions, sales venues, and dedicated sections for
rice and rice-based foods on e-commerce platforms. The AFA helps bakery businesses develop
premium products using domestically produced rice as the primary ingredient, meeting diverse
consumer needs. The agency also guides manufacturers of packaged rice and rice-based foods
in refreshing their brand identity and packaging to enhance competitiveness.

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