Farmland for organic vegetables expands by 550% in last 9 years

According to statistics compiled by the Council of Agriculture (COA), land for growing organic agricultural products reached 898 hectares in Taiwan in 2001. The figure has increased by 340 percent to 3,056 hectares as of this month.

COA officials expect the organic farmland to increase to more than 5,000 hectares in 10 years.

They said organic rice presently occupies the largest area of over 1,000 hectares of farmland.

But the area for vegetables posted the highest growth rate of 550 percent to 944 hectares from only 171 hectares nine years earlier.

Officials attributed the rapid expansion to the growing inclination of consumers to choose organic products free of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, although the prices are comparatively higher.

While there are some large business conglomerates involved in organic farming, COA has stepped up efforts to help more farmers switch to organic farming for higher profits.

Meanwhile, the COA is also promoting organic farm products with certification to combat the problem of fake organic items and safeguard the quality of farm goods and interests of consumers, the officials said.

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