Presidential Secretary-General Yu Shyi-kun this afternoon met with awardees of the 2005 Outstanding Farmers Award on behalf of President Chen Shui-bian. Yu extended his welcome to the visit of awardees to the Office of the President and congratulated them for receiving the award.nnPresidential Secretary-General Yu said that the award is established to acknowledge the farmers' outstanding performances in agricultural research and experiment and in promoting agricultural education. Yu thanked the award recipients for their significant contribution to Taiwan's agriculture and praised them as the model of Taiwan's agricultural workers. He expressed his hopes that farmers continue their diligent work and lay a widen foundation for Taiwan's agricultural industry.nnYu said that as son of a tenant farmer, President Chen has paid great attention to the agricultural industry and that the government has invested tremendous efforts in helping upgrade the industry over the last five years. The government is considering raising the Council of Agricultural Affairs to the ministerial level, making it the Ministry of Agricultural Affairs. The nine research institutes that were established during the provincial government era will be integrated to form the National Agricultural Research Institutes in an attempt to accelerate agricultural research and development. Yu said that the government is also concerned about the country's agricultural finance. The Agricultural Bank of Taiwan has launched operation this May, which marked a milestone for Taiwan's agricultural financial system. The Financial Supervisory Commission and Council of Agricultural Affairs under the Executive Yuan have meanwhile sponsored a NT$100 billion loan program to support farmers and fishermen in times of urgent needs. Capital invested in the development of agriculture is still on the rise.nnYu further noted that the constructions of an agricultural biotechnology science park and the "Taiwan Orchid Plantation" are near completion and that a number of companies are planning to have their headquarters there. Other projects such as the establishment of a national garden, a herbal medicine biotech park, and "Yilan Marine Bio-Tech Park" are also underway. To cope with the globalization of agriculture, the government has invested in the exploration of world market and has hoped to develop a global channel for Taiwanese agricultural products, so Taiwan can copy the success of its industrial products.nnThe presidential secretary-general congratulated all award recipients again and encouraged them to pursue an even more successful career in the agriculture and related industries.