Taipei, July 21 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian urged the country's farmers to get their products into the international market by upgrading the their stock bloodlines, promoting the quality of their agricultural products and making their brands known around the world.
Receiving a group of "distinguished agricultural experts" elected annually by the Kiwanis International Taiwan District, the president said Taiwan used to be a major exporter of agricultural products thanks to its geographic location and favorable climate.
Taiwan used to flood the international market with its sugar, bananas, pineapples, eels and flowers, the president said proudly.
Unfortunately, the island's agriculture has lost its edge on the international market as the focus of the country's economic development has gradually shifted from agriculture to industry and the value of production generated by agriculture is shrinking.
The opening of its market to foreign agricultural products after the country's entry into the World Trade Organization in 2002 means local farmers now face another round of cutthroat competition.
As a child of poor peasants, Chen said, he knows very well the dim prospects facing the island's farmers. However, he went on, he also knows that Taiwan's fine agricultural products can hold their own against their international competitors.
He urged the agricultural experts honored by the Kiwanis International Taiwan District to help tide the country's farmers over the crisis brought about by the fierce competition from abroad.