2014 GEAR-UP International Exchanges of Rural Regenerationfor Communities in the Taichung Area - Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation, MOA

To encourage international exchanges of rural regeneration, the SWCB Taichung Branch invited the GEAR-UP delegation from Texas A&M University for a visit on November 20, 2014. The delegation, comprising 5 members from the US, Indonesia and Thailand, visited Taichung’s Dongshi District Farmers Association, Qingfu Community and 37 rural regeneration communities for international exchanges. This exchange event was arranged to coordinate with the Forum on Global Ecology, Agriculture and Rural-Uplift Programs (GEAR-UP), hosted by National Chung Hsing University, where scholars shared their insights on the following four themes:  sustainable rural development, agricultural product safety certification, adoption of emerging technologies and agricultural human resource development. By doing so, all of the participants were able to know that in such aspects as grassroots training, community vision, and regional industry development, the importance of caring for the world’s ecology and uplifting agriculture and rural communities could be appreciated by more people, by keeping up with global development. As members of the global community, all participants will find this event rewarding. Dr. Gary Wingenbach and other members of the delegation said that the uniqueness of Taiwan’s rural communities and agriculture could attract global attention. They were impressed by the fact that the manpower cultivation in Taiwan’s rural communities had successfully developed a sense of community and passion for the community, which reflected the effects of rural regeneration efforts. The role of famers associations was also impressive in that they support regional agricultural development and marketing, and are influential and helpful in uplifting the rural communities.

According to Mr. Hsu Sen-Yen, director of SWCB Taichung Branch, Dongshi Qingfu Community is a rejuvenated community which has become an important agricultural and recreational area. Qingfu Community performs well in community development and in marketing its agricultural products. This time, scholars from Texas A&M University and GEAR-UP members from both at home and abroad were invited to visit Dongshi Township, Dongshi District Farmers Association and 37 rejuvenated rural communities in the Taichung area for international exchanges. Taiwan has been evaluated as one of the countries in Asia with huge potential for relevant GEAR-UP issues. With an annual 2000-ton output and successful marketing experiences which provide solid groundwork for the district’s strength, Dongshi District Farmers Association was considered an important spot on the itinerary. Moreover, as Qingfu Community has successfully conserved the firefly ecology and promoted diverse agricultural developments, its efforts in rural regeneration have expanded the industrial value chain and consolidated the region’s strength in agricultural development. These are reasons why Qingfu Community was also included as an important spot for the visit this time. This international exchange not only broadened the horizons of the communities, but also created chances for Dongshi District Farmers Association, Soft Pond Recreational and Agricultural Park, and Qingfu Community to strive for the participation in the Borlaug Fellowship Program of USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. That will help Dongshi to set up a human resource cultivation base to promote food safety and the sustainable development of Taiwan’s agricultural economy.

This exchange was expected to infuse international viewpoints into local communities, and provide insights into the sustainable development of agriculture and rural communities, thus deepening and highlighting the communities’ distinguishing features, establishing an SOP and standards for marketing agricultural products, as the communities are “uplifted” onto the international stage.