Academics call on government to aid agriculture sector

A member of Academia Sinica suggested yesterday the creation of a national research institute for agricultural technology to help build the competitiveness of the sector, which has been hard-hit by globalisation.

Chou Chang-hung said in a report at the July 2-5 biennial meeting of Academia Sinica members that Taiwan’s agriculture sector, which is labour-intensive and composed of mainly small farmers, is declining rapidly.

The report points out that conservative government policies that rely on subsidies and lack long-term planning or vision also hinder progress in the sector.

With its inability to transform into a more technology- and capital-intensive force, the sector is seeing a waning labour force and production values, leading to a growing rural-urban gap, according to the report.

He therefore proposed the creation of a research institute operated under partnerships among Academia Sinica and universities to develop the country’s agriculture and biotechnology.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2012/07/04/346458/Academics-call.htm

 

Category: Taiwan