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Agriculture, forestry and fisheries together accounted for 1.7% of GDP and 4.9% of total employment in 2017 (Table 1.2). Continuing a trend in evidence during the previous review period, the value of total agriculture, forestry and fishery production continued to grow, peaking in 2014 and dropping off slightly in 2015 due to climate and weather factors, but recovering thereafter (Table 4.1). (...)

The Council of Agriculture (COA) remains the entity responsible for the administration of forestry, agriculture, fisheries, livestock and other affairs concerning foodstuffs. (…) . It is envisaged that the new ministry will improve the functioning of its departments, including (...) implementing farmland water conservancy construction (...)

Table 4.4 New Agricultural Policy objectives
Pillar Objectives
Pillar I: Establishing agricultural paradigms Implement green environmental payments on farmland; (…) enhance the conservation of fishery resources; promote green energy; sustainably use forest resources; (...)
Pillar II: Formulating a safety system for agricultural products (...) promote organic and environmentally friendly farming; (...)

(...) Efforts to meet the overall self-sufficiency goal as well as to increase the production of import substitution crops (an objective contained in the New Agricultural Policy [11]) are largely being undertaken through the "Support for Diversified Crops" programme (see below) and the "Adjusting the Cropping System and Revitalizing Fallow Land" programme launched in 2013. (...)

[11] Among the objectives contained in the New Agricultural Policy are (...) to encourage the cultivation of fallow farmland with import-substitute crops or non GMO soybean and maize.

Two new fertilizer subsidy schemes were introduced in 2018. (...) Additionally, all farmers are eligible for freight subsidies (also at NT$500/tonne) for composite fertilizers containing organic matter. The purpose of the latter scheme is to promote eco-friendly agriculture and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.

Over the review period, amendments were made to the Regulations for the Relief of Damage Caused by Natural Disasters in the wake of the 2015 typhoons. Certain crops and fisheries items which were previously not eligible for relief are now eligible for low interest rate loans. [26] Additionally, changes were made to expand eligibility for post-disaster cash relief as well as to increase the value of such relief. As reported by the authorities, total relief allocations in 2015 amounted to NT$3.6 billion, benefitting 139,400 households, and 353 farm or fishing households received low-interest loans totalling NT$26 million.

[26] Additional crops eligible for disaster relief are: citrus fruit, bamboo shoots and short-term vegetables. Additional fishery items are: grouper, eel, ornamental fish raised in outdoor fish ponds, and indoor aquaculture production and management facilities.

The forestry sector in Chinese Taipei is small, accounting for 0.01% of GDP in 2016. There are an estimated 268,317 persons employed in the sector. Green forests cover nearly 61% of the surface area (some 2,197,000 hectares) and reforestation efforts have resulted in a 2.2% increase in the forested area since 1993. Publicly owned forests (including forests owned at central and county/city levels) cover 1,857,000 hectares, of which there are 460,000 hectares of protected forests. The estimated size of commercial forest land, including both publically and privately owned forests is 290,000 hectares. The logging of primary forests has been banned since 1990.

Harvesting of yields on publicly owned forests is carried out according to an annual logging plan which is compiled by the Forestry Bureau (see below). Owners of private forest lands must also submit logging plans to be included in the annual logging plan. Various efforts have been taken to prevent illegal logging, including: the production of an illegal logging high risk area map; a rewards system for reporting illegal logging; and the recruitment of volunteer forest rangers to work alongside full-time rangers.

The Forestry Bureau under the COA continues to regulate the development of forestry. The main law is the Forestry Act of 2004, as amended. Amendments to the Act in 2016 introduced articles relating to the protection of trees outside forests; the extension of an awards system for achievements in protecting or adopting trees; and penalties for illegal activities.

The objectives for the sector as set out in the New Agricultural Policy (see above) are to: promote afforestation and reforestation; strengthen forest preservation and comprehensive management of forests; promote nature conservation; preserve wild animal and plant resources; ensure the sound functioning of ecological systems; strengthen the economic value of forest land and upgrade the quality of forest recreation areas.