RESEARCH, EXTENSION AND OUTLOOK OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN TAIWAN

Mordern agriculture, based on the monoculture of cash crop varieties that require high inputs, depends on heavy applications of inorganic fertilizers and on chemical pestisides for pest control. Although this kind of farm practice has contributed greatly to the agricultural productivity in the past years, however, monoculture often leads to excess production of a crop which causes a drop of farm price and eventually to decrease farm income. Rice production in Taiwan is a good example. On the other hand, this chemically oriented intensive farming system will cause soil erosion and polution of underground water. The sustainability of modern agriculture has become a subject of great concern to policy makers, researchers and farmers in Taiwan. Research into sustainable agriculture systems has been conducted by various research institutes in Taiwan. The problem encountered in implementing sustainable agriculture in Taiwan are discussed based on the results of experimental data, with regard to the following factors : (1)soil nurient management, (2) applications of organic matter to soil, (3)crop rotation and interplanting, (4)minimum tillage, (5)integrated pest management, (6)non-chemical pesticides and (7)weed management. Current government policies are discussed. The dissemination of sustainable agriculture technology to farmers through govermental organizations, and methods of organic farming practiced by farmers in Taiwan are also described.