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Horticulture in Taiwan

Taiwan, over the past few years has achieved world recognition in terms of horticultural production. The country has vastly specialized in fruit, vegetable, and floriculture crop production in the horticultural sector. In turn, it has earned recognition in the world market that directly deals with horticultural crops. As far as fruit crop is of concern, pineapple is a leading horticultural commodity that Taiwan keenly specializes in producing. The Taiwan Pineapple Corporation is a significant part in making the pineapple production a worthwhile venture that has been causing worldwide competitors to raise eyebrows.

The production area of pineapple in Taiwan is 12068 hectares. The island has a geographic advantage over other regions, which highly encourages the successful growth and harvest of fruits. The eastern coast of the island forms an extensively suitable area for the growth of pineapples where temperatures and rainfall are quite favorable.

Over the years, the production volume of pineapples in Taiwan has exceedingly increased surpassing even major exporters such as Japan. The production volume of pineapples in Taiwan has been on an increasing trend. The major reason behind the increased volume within the many years of production is the introduction and exploitation of the canning industry. Since pineapples are easily perishable, their exportation was highly limited by this fact. However, introduction of canning increased the longevity of the fruit crops after harvesting. The production volume number stands at 145,881 metric tons within a year. The amount of pineapple volume produced can be categorized into three leading pineapples. They include the Cayenne, Golden, and the Spain pineapples. Each pineapple has its unique features, which makes them unique and quite desirable by countries such as China.

Pineapples in Taiwan have value in terms of exports from the country. In terms of monetary value, pineapples from Taiwan grown for exportation are highly valued by China and Japan. Recent records indicate that the pineapples exported from Taiwan are valued at approximately $1000 for every ton. This value has highly increased since Taiwan recognized its potential of producing quality pineapples that are worth exporting. In turn, this has made pineapples the third highest earners in Taiwan; this is after rice and sugar.

Rice is the leading vegetable crop in Taiwan, and serves a major export in the country atop its significant use domestically. The south and western plains of the island form the key areas of planting the crop. In 2004, rice ranked as the most crucial crop within Taiwan and covered several hectares of land. Additionally, in 2005, the crop still stood as quite vital to the country with the increased hectares of land used to plant it. Paddy and brown rice make up the types of the crop planted within the island in large-scale proportions. Since early 2000s, rice production areas have ranged between 200000 hectares to 300000 hectares. However, the demand for rice from Taiwan has reached a level where it has passed the supply level. Nonetheless, various strategies are being implemented to increase the production, such as increased fertilizer supply.

Volume production of rice has sharply changed since it became a major export in Taiwan. Volume production by 1951 was around 1.5 million tons, but by 1976, it had increased by almost half. However, over the years, its production has fluctuated and does not have a constant increase or decrease in volume. The following table is a self-explanatory display of the rice production in Taiwan since 1960.

Market Year Production Unit of Measure Growth Rate

1960 1778 (1000 MT) NA

1961 1875 (1000 MT) 5.46 %

1962 1965 (1000 MT) 4.80 %

1963 1961 (1000 MT) -0.20 %

1964 2089 (1000 MT) 6.53 %

1965 2184 (1000 MT) 4.55 %

1966 2213 (1000 MT) 1.33 %

1967 2245 (1000 MT) 1.45 %

1968 2342 (1000 MT) 4.32 %

1969 2159 (1000 MT) -7.81 %

1970 2291 (1000 MT) 6.11 %

1971 2152 (1000 MT) -6.07 %

1972 2270 (1000 MT) 5.48 %

1973 2097 (1000 MT) -7.62 %

1974 2280 (1000 MT) 8.73 %

1975 2319 (1000 MT) 1.71 %

1976 2253 (1000 MT) -2.85 %

1977 2384 (1000 MT) 5.81 %

1978 2249 (1000 MT) -5.66 %

1979 2254 (1000 MT) 0.22 %

1980 2166 (1000 MT) -3.90 %

1981 2185 (1000 MT) 0.88 %

1982 2284 (1000 MT) 4.53 %

1983 2286 (1000 MT) 0.09 %

1984 2065 (1000 MT) -9.67 %

1985 2000 (1000 MT) -3.15 %

1986 1815 (1000 MT) -9.25 %

1987 1748 (1000 MT) -3.69 %

1988 1697 (1000 MT) -2.92 %

1989 1716 (1000 MT) 1.12 %

1990 1662 (1000 MT) -3.15 %

1991 1673 (1000 MT) 0.66 %

1992 1498 (1000 MT) -10.46 %

1993 1636 (1000 MT) 9.21 %

1994 1511 (1000 MT) -7.64 %

1995 1517 (1000 MT) 0.40 %

1996 1420 (1000 MT) -6.39 %

1997 1463 (1000 MT) 3.03 %

1998 1311 (1000 MT) -10.39 %

1999 1349 (1000 MT) 2.90 %

2000 1342 (1000 MT) -0.52 %

2001 1245 (1000 MT) -7.23 %

2002 1271 (1000 MT) 2.09 %

2003 1164 (1000 MT) -8.42 %

2004 1011 (1000 MT) -13.14 %

2005 1033 (1000 MT) 2.18 %

2006 1100 (1000 MT) 6.49 %

2007 955 (1000 MT) -13.18 %

2008 1025 (1000 MT) 7.33 %

2009 1111 (1000 MT) 8.39 %

2010 1186 (1000 MT) 6.75 %

2011 1175 (1000 MT) -0.93 %

2012 1161 (1000 MT) -1.19 %

Drawing from the table above, it is clear that the rice production volume has been on an unsteady trend. Nonetheless, rice production still remains an important sector within Taiwan and is still the leading food crop product for both domestic and international use.

Research shows that agriculture is not a lucrative venture in Taiwan for people seeking business opportunities. However, floriculture crop industry is a sector that speaks volumes of the means businesspersons in Taiwan can make huge profits from agriculture. Floriculture, which involves the propagation of ornamental plants such as orchids, is paving ways for businesses oriented persons to make money. The leading flowers that constitute Taiwan’s major products are orchids, foliage plants, and anthurium. This is atop other key flowers that the country specializes in their growth and exportation. The major target countries for Taiwan include Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, and the United States. Taiwan, having such a vast market target for their floriculture crops, is a vivid indication that they are successful in maintaining this business venture. In addition, increasing the area of the floriculture crops is also an indicator of success in the industry. In 1978, for example, the area dedicated to planting floriculture crops was about 1200 hectares. Surprisingly, by 2006 this land area had widely increased with an area covering over 13000 hectares.

The value of floriculture crops in Taiwan has also been on a rising trend. Growing the products within high tech greenhouses other than open fields is a factor that has contributed extensively to the increase of the crop’s value. Moreover, entrepreneurs have aggressively involved themselves with the floriculture business with many exploiting the highly productive areas of Taiwan. During the development of the floriculture business, research has made immense contributions towards improving the aspects of the venture. Taiwan has been ranked as the number one exporter of phalaenopsis. The reason behind this is its capability to deliver these flowers whilst they are still in their growth medium. This is a major contribution research has provided to the floriculture business in Taiwan, making it a lead exporter in such products to major countries such as the United States. Such impressive techniques have earned the country high value products, for instance, having phalaenopsis sell as high as $151000 in a hectare within one year.

Taiwan discovered the potential behind the floriculture business, and put up measures to ensure their success in the venture remains intact. The Floriculture Research Center, for example, is an establishment that the country put up to support its floriculture crops’ production. In addition, the center deals with problems farmers may face during planting, growth and harvesting of floriculture crops. The center is also keen at developing new cultivars of floral products such as orchids to increase their value and volumes. The center also explores the potential of developing new hybrids that have the capability of doing well within other countries such as in Japan. The center, for example, has developed flowers that have attractive values that help in increasing the prices of such products. In turn, all these add value to the exports from Taiwan’s floriculture business.

Import volume, and value of fruits

The key fruit imports that Taiwan specializes in are apples that they get from United States and other countries such as Chile. Taiwan’s fruit importation has been fueled by various factors. One of the leading reasons behind Taiwan’s huge importation of apples in the country is unfavorable environmental conditions to support their growth. The import volume of apples in Taiwan is over 140000 MT per year valued at over US$163 million. Taiwan’s geographical position is also a key factor that contributes to its massive importation of apples. Its location on the globe exposes the country to natural disasters such as tropical storms, which are unsuitable conditions for growth and sustainability of apples. The country also possess an extremely high level of apple consumption; thus, making the demand overwhelming for the supply to meet. Subsequently, the country ends up making huge importations to satisfy the high consumption of apples. Taiwan has posed as a ready market for fresh apples and countries such as Chile have become their regular suppliers. Other than apples, oranges form another fruit crop that is of high value within Taiwan. In Taiwan, these two fruits, apples and oranges, are highly consumed among the citizens. However, the country does not import humongous amounts of oranges since 95% of the total products are homegrown.

Import volume, and value of vegetable crops

Taiwan has a greater amount of agricultural imports than its exports. One of the major contributors of increased imports in vegetables is the low production within the country. China is a major exporter to Taiwan in vegetable supplies. China supplies Taiwan abundantly with peas, tomatoes and, cauliflower. Over the last ten years, the supply of these products in Taiwan has heightened, but at the same time, their production within Taiwan’s nation has decreased. The consumption rate of these products is quite high within Taiwan, and there is a dire need to meet the demand. String beans are also highly valued in Taiwan and China has been on the forefront to ensure their supply remains intact. Taiwan imports over 5000 tons of string beans per year from China. Other than cereals, Taiwan is an active importer of tea, which is also from China. Although Taiwan is an active grower of tea, it also imports the same product from China crossing over the 5000 tons mark per annum.

Export volume, and value of floriculture crops

Taiwan’s climate is the major reason behind its great success in establishing a great market in floriculture crops. The climate allows a vast spectrum of flowers to grow in the country. In turn, this has allowed the government to use this to their advantage by exploring this opportunity. Over the years, research has tremendously increased the volume of flowers exported out of Taiwan with special concentration on orchids. The orchids, as mentioned earlier, are the major export products that Taiwan delivers to various countries such as Japan. Taiwan takes over 81% of the total world’s floral exports with orchids taking the lead. Projected value of the floral supply within the end of 2014 is about US$ 237million. This depicts that the floral venture is something that Taiwan highly upholds and depends upon for the sustainability of the country’s economy.

Export volume, and value of vegetable crops

Vegetable exports within Taiwan are an integral part of the income earners within the country. In 2009, it was recorded that 149000 hectares of farmland were used for the plantation, growth, and harvest of vegetable crops within the island. In addition, the country could produce a total of 2.9 million tons worth of vegetable exports from the vast pieces of farmland. Taiwan participates actively in the export business of various vegetable crops such as green soybeans. Green soybeans prove to contain more nutrients than peas. Lujing and Luxiang are two of the major categories of soybeans involved in the exportation venture. Head lettuces are also part of the vegetable crop export from Taiwan. The lettuces are exported under strict regulations to preserve their hygiene and nutrients. Such rules include correct application of pesticides to avoid spoilage of the head lettuces. Carrots also form a major part of Taiwan’s vegetable crop exports, and is performed under strict government supervision to ensure that the procedures aimed at observing hygiene are followed. Though a seasonal crop, from December to April, carrots still constitute a paramount section of Taiwan’s vegetable exports. Mushrooms are also important plant products exported from Taiwan to several destinations in the world. Taiwan’s button mushroom is a leading export product that the country vigorously supplies both at the local and international levels. However, it is in addition to other mushroom varieties. Just like in the floral business venture, Taiwan also involves itself in heightened research methods to improve on the quality of the mushroom produces. In addition, the country has involved itself in automated production of mushrooms. In turn, this has turned mushrooms into a popular vegetable both locally and in the international markets. Mushroom production has risen to over 85% of the total fresh produce worth more than 250 million Taiwan dollars per annum.

Production Practices of Pineapples in Taiwan

Pineapple is the leading fruit produced in Taiwan, and various production practices have seen its rise to be a major export product. The Taiwan government has taken a special interest to see to it that the lucrative business venture of pineapple production is sustained well in the world market. One of the key practices that the government introduced in the pineapple fruit production is reducing the use of pesticides. The international sanitary and safety standards are used to measure the amount of pesticides applied on planted pineapples. The other practice that the government is keen on implementing in the growth of pineapples is the use of stalk cracking formulation. A problem that persists while growing pineapples is the stalk cracking disorder where the fruits grow almost horizontally without bulging. In turn, such fruits are disregarded as far as fresh market is of concern. Crossbreeding pineapples is also a common production practice highly exploited in Taiwan. Extensive pineapple production is tasking, but Taiwan has engaged itself in the production of a variety of the fruits via processes such as crossbreeding.

Harvesting Methods of Pineapple in Taiwan

Pineapple growing in Taiwan is a leading industry in the country, and it requires a huge taskforce especially during harvesting periods. Records show that during the harvesting period, more than 10000 people are included in the process. The taskforce includes skilled and unskilled laborers that help see to it that harvesting is complete and within the expected period. Sickle-harvest and hand-harvest methods are highly applicable in Taiwan’s pineapple farmlands. However, the hand-harvest method is highly utilized than the sickle-harvest methodology. Though it may be a more popular means of harvesting the pineapple fruits, it is not a recommended one since it produces uneven breaks on the stems. Additionally, the hand-harvested fruits proved, via experiments, that they develop browning tissues due to contamination. The chemical balance is also adversely affected upon harvesting the pineapples by hand. Thus, it is crucial for farmers to harvest the fruits via sickle-harvest method as a means of increasing the longevity of the fruits.

Postharvest Care Given to Pineapples in Taiwan

Upon harvesting the pineapple fruits, it is a crucial requirement to have transport ready and proper roads to make the transition smooth. Thus, the fruits are transported to the packing location via trucks that have thermal insulation, sliding curtains and special double roofing that helps keep them fresh. Disinfection and high levels of hygiene are mandatory requirements that help maintain the fruits in proper conditions and void of any infections. During transportation of the fruits, it is advisable to lay the vegetable parts of the plant on the floor. This helps regulate temperatures within the vehicle used to transport the fruits, and act as a shock absorber to help preserve the physical state of the fruits. On reaching the packing plants, the pineapples undergo pre-gradation process followed by washing them, waxing, and application of fungicides. Next, the fruits are dried and packed in accordance to grade and size. The next step is placing the pineapples in cooling systems and in controlled atmospheres. This is done until the produce is released into the market.

Processing of Pineapples in Taiwan

The two traditional means of consumption of pineapples in Taiwan is via direct eating the fruit or eating it from a can. The processing of the pineapples in cans is carried out by leading industries in the country where it is sliced and placed mechanically in clean cans. The fruits are then supplied in cans for people’s consumption. Other than such products, Taiwan has also diversified in terms of the products that they can produce from pineapples. Concentrated pineapple juice is an example of a product that Taiwan produces from these fruits. The process of juice production is a successful one considering the amount of juice it is able to produce of the harvested fruits. Dried pineapple chips, isotonic mixtures, wines, and cubes are also some of the products that Taiwan processes from pineapples. All these products have diversified the Taiwan pineapple market vastly and increased their sales, both domestically and on international platforms.

Marketing of pineapples in Taiwan

The Council of Agriculture (COA) is an active body involved in marketing of pineapple products in Taiwan. COA, for quite a while, has been campaigning that Taiwan is a reliable source of nutritious and healthy pineapple products. Since 2011, COA has helped in rolling out export production areas within Taiwan. These areas have helped in exporting pineapples and marketing their products since they are able to yield huge amounts of fruits that qualify for exportation. In addition, COA has established systems that help track the products and promote marketing of the pineapples worldwide. Pineapple marketing is a crucial undertaking that the Taiwan government is really exploiting. Marketing of pineapples ranges from virtual to physical means. Virtual means of marketing pineapple products is mainly via the internet, which is a worldwide access. This gives Taiwan a better mode of communicating with the rest of the world and increasing their sales.

Production Practices of Rice in Taiwan

Rice is a leading product in Taiwan, and it is a high earner in the country. Production of rice in Taiwan is on a large-scale basis with vast farmlands ranging over 250 thousand hectares. Rice production in Taiwan relies on heavy mechanization and irrigation. The government subsidies and inceptives are also a big part of the rice production in Taiwan. They assist in covering the expenses incurred in the production process of rice. Growing rice in Taiwan is based on paddy fields where reservoir ponds create suitable grounds for planting the rice. The planting process is automated to make it an easy endeavor and cover extensive land. Cultivation is mandatory during the growing season and by October, harvesting commences.

Harvesting of Rice in Taiwan

Rice is a crop grown almost everywhere in Taiwan and this calls for automated harvesting. Combined harvesters are the main equipment utilized in the harvesting processes. The harvesting processes commence in October following the drying of the crops in the fields. The rice harvesters mainly chop the relatively long crops into rows. The harvester chops the rice, at the same time collects the grains, and dispenses the stalks behind it. The harvester collects rice up to a certain level and offloads its contents into a waiting truck. The harvester then goes back to the field and circles again for more grain. The awaiting truck then transports the grains to the processing plant.

Postharvest Care Given to Rice in Taiwan

It is crucial for the drying and milling processes of rice to be effective to avoid spoilage. Poor and old methods of removing moisture from rice mostly lead to the destruction of the rice grains. Timely harvest is also an important measure to look out for when harvesting rice. This is to ensure that the rice moisture content is at the right level. Additionally, it is important for the drying process to be regulated to avoid overdoing it. This may be damaging to the rice grains since they may lose excessive water. It is also vital for postharvest process to ensure that the drying process is uniform. This helps to avoid brown spots on the rice grains, which may result from ununiformed drying process. Cleaning and application of proper amounts of insecticides is a crucial postharvest process aimed at protecting the grains from infestation by pests. Moreover, this aids in getting rid of diseases already that have already infected the grains.

Processing of Rice in Taiwan

Grading is the initial step taken during the processing of rice. The sorting process when it comes to rice grading involves classification of grains according to various factors. The grains can be sorted in terms of their thickness, for example. Rotating graders are best suited for differentiating and classifying the grains by their thickness. Trieurs are the most appropriate graders used in separating grains that have the same thickness size but varying heights. The preceding steps after the rice is graded include aromatic improvement of the rice by use of biotechnological process. Parboiling and milling of the grains include the preceding steps to follow during the processing stage of the rice. Packaging is reserved as the final step to follow in the processing stage of rice as a product on sale in Taiwan.

Marketing of Rice in Taiwan

One of the key marketing strategies that Taiwan has introduced in the country is packaging the products in exquisite packs. The packaging has been improved to capture the customer’s attention, which has in turn increased the sales. Additionally, the quality of the rice produced has been highly increased to ensure that inferior grains have been removed from the market. Packaging rice in attractive packs has led to a common culture that helps in marketing it. The culture involves handing out rice as a gift, given that the rice packages are attractive enough to stand out as presents. In turn, this is increasing making rice a popular crop in Taiwan. On the other hand, Taiwan is actively involved in virtual marketing of rice over the internet. This marketing results to global identification of the country’s high quality rice. Consequently, this increases the international orders directed to Taiwan.

Production practices of Orchids in Taiwan

Taiwan, over time, has developed unique means of producing orchids since they are a vital part of the floriculture business venture. The practice starts with aseptic seed culture, which takes a span of between ten to fifteen months. The next step involves placing the germinating plants in flasks then in a pot after three to five months. The plants mature for about seventeen months then they are cultured. The forced culture takes place between two and three months where the plant starts flowering afterwards, which at this point, it is ready for harvesting.

Postharvest Care of Orchids in Taiwan

Orchids are delicate and extremely valuable in Taiwan. Therefore, their growth and successful exportation from the country whilst they are still intact is very crucial. This makes postharvest care of floral plants a necessary step to undertake in preparation of the orchids for sale. The common steps followed under the postharvest care of orchids include cutting stems whilst still under water and transferring them into a new solution of flower food. This is done under high humidity. Care is also taken to prevent damaging of the pollen cap through the addition of calcium chloride into the flower food. Indeed this is a necessary step since pollinated flowers cannot last for over 48 hours without their pollen cap being damaged.

Processing and Marketing of Orchids in Taiwan

Taiwan is a key player when it comes to exporting floricultural crops. Thus, the country takes extensive measures to ensure that the flowers reach their destination intact and have a prolonged life. Taiwan processes its flowers by application of standardized chemical additives to the flowers to ensure that they stay fresh. In addition, the cut flowers are subjected to high humidity that keeps them from becoming flaccid. The flowers are also kept in a refrigerated environment to reduce water loss through the petals. In turn, this ensures that the flowers are intact upon reaching their destination, and remain in that state for a while.

Constraints Facing the Horticulture Sector in Taiwan

Horticulture is a major industry in Taiwan, but faces various challenges that affect it adversely. One key problem that Taiwan is currently facing in the horticulture industry is heightened competition from fellow exporters. Other than floriculture crops, Taiwan is also an aggressive participant in producing and exporting other horticultural crop products. These products include tea, fruits, and sugar. Within all these sectors, it faces high competition from countries such as Japan and United States. In this case, their products demand worldwide drops making the horticulture industry strain to keep up with the economic changes. Though competition is inevitable, Taiwan tries to make changes that make it stand out in areas that it is leading. The floral sector is a successful venture that provides the country with huge profit margins. Thus, Taiwan is always making advances aimed at heightening the quality level of the floral products. Nonetheless, it is always making improvements within other sectors that constitute various areas of production. This is aimed at keeping up with the high competition from other countries in the world.

Natural constraints also affect the horticulture industry in Taiwan. Global warming, for instance, is an effect that has become inevitable all over the world and its effects are experienced in Taiwan. Droughts, which are a product of global warming, occur occasionally in Taiwan. They are notorious for destroying crops such as rice, which require a lot of water. However, during such times, Taiwan government takes measures to reduce the negative effects. For instance, Taiwan has introduced water reservoirs as an initiative to help reduce the adverse effects brought forth by nature.

Opportunities in the Horticulture Sector in Taiwan

Taiwan is an island that has favorable environmental conditions despite the global warming effect. These conditions contribute to the high yield production of several horticulture crops in the country. The whole area in the island, for example, is suitable for plantation and growth of rice. Rice is a leading earner in Taiwan, and the country exploits this to the maximum with high exports in the same. On the other hand, the floral business venture is doing extremely well because of favorable environmental conditions. Having noted this, Taiwan has grabbed this opportunity and exploited it to the maximum. The Taiwan government, via several bodies, vigorously exploits the various possible flower types that they can produce. In turn, this leads to production of floral products bearing different traits, and having higher quality value in the world market.

Taiwan also actively contributes to the required resources that serve as means of making things better and more lucrative. Entrepreneurs have also indulged into active investment upon discovering the potential Taiwan is displaying as far as horticulture industry is of concern. Subsequently, this has improved this industry since the entrepreneurs are in a position to provide sumptuous amounts of funds to help catapult the projects to greater heights of success. Additionally, such entrepreneurs are able to give ideas that are ready to help the horticulture sector grow. These ideas may be highly linked to the business venture that caters for the development of horticulture industry in Taiwan. They may range from means of reducing costs experienced in the industry. Taiwan is a land of opportunities, and as much as it is perceived by fellow countries as a weak nation, it has potential to produce excellent products. In addition, the country has proved to exploit this potential to its maximum, which is evidenced by the high production of horticulture products. Taiwan’s agriculture production potential has also caught the attention of leading countries in the world. Countries such as United States and Japan have made Taiwan their major suppliers in various products. United States, for example, highly depends on Taiwan for their high demand of floriculture crop products such as orchids.