Organic farms repeatedly face expropriation; legislators and environmental groups urge swift amendment of the Organic Agriculture Promotion Act

More than a year after the Organic Agriculture Promotion Act took effect, organic farms such as Zhongqi Organic Farm and Tianxin Ranch have frequently been expropriated, and the survival of organic farmers is under serious challenge. Yesterday (the 17th), at the public hearing "Is the Organic Agriculture 'Promotion' Act a 'Destruction' Act?", calls were made for the law to be amended as soon as possible so that the rights and interests of organic farmers can truly be protected.

In particular, Article 6 of this law, which states that public land and land owned by state-run enterprises should give priority to the establishment of organic agriculture promotion zones, lacks mandatory force. If local governments expropriate land for development considerations, the Organic Agriculture Promotion Act is hard-pressed to stop them. And although Article 7 explicitly provides for rent concessions and lease-term guarantees, farmers present said they had encountered Taiwan Sugar Corporation raising rents under the pretext of renewing contracts, and that in practice the protections are limited.

Taiwan Sugar Corporation responded that there is indeed room for review in its leasing of agricultural land, but that it absolutely does its utmost to assist young farmers and organic farmers. The Agriculture and Food Agency stated that the original intent of the Organic Agriculture Promotion Act was to promote the development of organic agriculture, so it does not contain much mandatory content. It has only been in effect for just over a year, and next it will first work in conjunction with other existing legal provisions to improve the current situation.