Contract-farmed garlic has no pesticide residues; Citong Farmers' Association joins hands with Good People's Hall to find a way out

(This article is part of a series on garlic prices. To read the previous article, please click here.)

Farmers' associations stay hidden, registration system not implemented, a 10-year chronic problem hard to solve

The agricultural authorities' plan is to absorb excess domestic garlic through exports and promotions, expecting prices to stabilize after one or two months. However, looking through the Agricultural Statistics Yearbook, one can find that this approach treats the symptoms but not the root cause. In 2011, Taiwan's garlic output reached as high as 64,000 metric tons, and garlic prices also fell to just over 10 yuan. The solution at that time was exactly the same as today, likewise encouraging exports, promotions and processing.

Tracing further back, the Tainan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station of the Council of Agriculture wrote a special article as early as 2000 titled "Structural Adjustment of Garlic Production and Marketing." The article pointed out that garlic prices fluctuate sharply, and when prices are good, the planting area increases the following year. There have been extreme prices at the place of origin of 4.7 yuan per kilogram (2.82 yuan per Taiwan catty), and 170.7 yuan (102.5 yuan per Taiwan catty). It suggested that agricultural authorities thoroughly implement the registration system and establish joint production and marketing teams for cooperative operation and marketing. After 15 years, farmers' mentality has not changed, and agricultural authorities are still only fighting fires from behind.

On this point, the Yunlin County Government also has something to say. County government employees said that every year the estimated area will be excessive, and they run marquee messages on the internet and television, asking township agricultural affairs team leaders to urge farmers not to plant more, "but farmers simply do not listen." Originally, the system was that only farmers who honestly registered would later be eligible for agricultural loss subsidies, but whenever subsidies are mentioned, elected representatives apply pressure, and everyone gets a prize. Some farmers hold the attitude of "no matter what, the government will step in anyway," and plant when prices are good.

In terms of production and marketing, because the key player, the "farmers' association," stays hidden, farmers have long been at the mercy of brokers. Zhang Yuxuan, general secretary of the Citong Farmers' Association, said that garlic, unlike other vegetables, rarely enters the auction market and is mostly controlled by five or six local brokers. The Tuku Farmers' Association in Yunlin County admitted frankly that because farmers' associations are responsible for their own profits and losses, "losing money cannot be explained to the board of directors." After losing money once before, unless the central government allocates a budget to commission purchases, they will not take the initiative to buy.

Promoting contract farming and auction markets, Citong Farmers' Association seeks a new way out