Taipei, July 17 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian vowed Thursday to take care of the nation's farmers and fishermen by offering them "three promises and one hope."
The president, accompanied by Chen Tze-nan, vice secretary-general of the Presidential Office, made the remarks in a seminar held at the Kangshan Township Farmers' Association in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan.
The seminar, sponsored by the Council of Agriculture (COA), was also attended by officials from Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Kinmen counties. The president listened to their views and responded to their questions.
Claiming that "agriculture is the roots of Taiwan and stable agriculture will lead to a stable and progressive society, " the president said that he hopes to gain a better understanding of the farmers' situation, hear their true voice and take better care of them.
He promised that the government will side with the farmers' and fishermen's associations and will not eradicate them, saying that the credit departments of these associations are the "heart" of the grass-roots financial institutions on which the farmers and fishermen rely.
He also promised that after the passage through the legislature of the Agricultural Finance Law, the government will better address the needs of fishermen and provide better agriculture financial services, so that the protection of farmers' and fishermen's deposits will improve.
He also promised that if the operations of credit departments of farmers' and fishermen's associations run into trouble, the government will first provide counselling and if there are still difficulties, then they will be addressed through the merging of credit departments rather than by having them taken over by commercial banks.
He also expressed hope that the development of agriculture will rely on the upgrading of agricultural technology and strengthening of the marketing of agricultural products.
He said the Council of Agriculture will take the initiative to cooperate with the farmers' and fishermen's associations, introduce new production technology, upgrade agricultural value, and combine advertising, marketing, warehousing and distribution operators to form strategic alliances so that "the best farm and fishery products in Taiwan can be introduced to the world and Taiwan can become a modern agriculture powerhouse."
He noted that the Executive Yuan tried to reorganize the debt-ridden credit departments of the farmers' and fishermen's associations. Chen said that he had since asked the Executive Yuan to reflect on the situation and suspend the reforms. He added that he took full responsibility, but he wanted all of them "to know that in his heart, he wants to take care of the farmers and fishermen."
He also said that the government began providing a NT$3,000 monthly stipend for old farmers in July 1995, but during the period, civil servants have seen their salaries hiked several times. The stipend for veterans has also been adjusted upwards.
He said that at present, there are 700,000 elderly farmers receiving stipends and that a hike of NT$1,000 a month, or a total increased expenditure of NT$8.4 billion a year, is quite reasonable.
He ordered COA Chairman Lee Chin-lung to convey the idea to Premier Yu Shyi-kun so as to convene related agencies as soon as possible so that after the policy is formulated, the Cabinet can seek the support of the legislature for its approval.