Fallowed Land Activation Policy Idiot's Guide: All the Key Points Organized in One Go

The fallow land revitalization policy takes effect on New Year's Day next year. In addition to changing fallow subsidies from two periods to one, the Council of Agriculture (COA) is also adjusting the small landowner, large tenant farmer program and planting incentive payments. It is expected to revitalize 45,000 hectares of farmland, raise the food self-sufficiency rate by 1.4 percent in the 105th year of the Republic of China, from 33.49 percent in 2011 to 34.9 percent, and create 100,000 job opportunities.

The following is the policy changes compiled by the reporter based on the COA's statements. If farmers have questions after reading them, please do not hesitate to call the COA's free service hotline at 0800-015158 at any time to protect your rights.

Up to 45,000 yuan for switching to import-substitution crops

Starting from January 1 of the 102nd year of the Republic of China, fallow subsidies were changed to one period. Farmers who leave land fallow during that period and plant green manure receive a subsidy of 45,000 yuan per hectare per period. If they do not plant green manure and only plow the land, the subsidy is 34,000 yuan. For unsuitable land such as subsidence areas, flood-prone areas, and saline land, or specific ecological maintenance fields such as terraced paddies, the two-period annual subsidy is still maintained, but the subsidy amount is reduced to 34,000 yuan. Although it is 11,000 yuan less, no plowing is required. The COA emphasizes that if farmers truly cannot cultivate the land, they can rent out farmland through the Farmland Bank or ask a contract farming team to cultivate it on their behalf.

To give farmers time to adjust, the COA has also established buffer regulations. In the 102nd and 103rd years of the Republic of China, if the land cannot be rented out, farmland plowing can be carried out, with a subsidy of 20,000 yuan per hectare.