Academia Sinica Logo

Sunlight, water, land, and farmers/fishers are essential conditions for sustainable agriculture. In Taiwan, aside from sunlight, the sustainability of agriculture faces significant challenges. Regarding farmland, three major issues persist: high land prices, declining land quality, and the loss of farmland quantity. These problems can only be gradually addressed through comprehensive surveys, public disclosure, and ongoing improvements in the management and utilization of farmland.
However, farmland loss due to economic development and the spread of solar energy installations also pose serious challenges to farmland policy. It is recommended to complete and publish a white paper on farmland policy and, under the framework of the National Spatial Plan, maintain the total amount of farmland at a level between 740,000 and 810,000 hectares.
By upgrading Irrigation Associations into government agencies, expanding irrigation zones, and implementing precise drip irrigation as part of a comprehensive agricultural production management strategy, Taiwan can better cope with droughts and climate change. Ultimately, even with land and water in place, it remains essential to have farmers and fishers actively engaged in agricultural and fishery production. Without an increase in their income, sustaining their participation is not feasible. Therefore, strategies to boost income should focus on simultaneously reducing production costs and minimizing losses caused by disasters or diseases, while also working to increase the prices of agricultural products. I will analyze the specific policies and measures implemented between 2016 and 2023 to enhance the income of farmers and fishers, with the aim of providing a valuable reference for the sustainable development of Taiwan's agricultural sector.