Editing Economy of Taiwan (section)

===Agriculture===
[[File:Taiwan 2009 WuHe County Tea Plantation FRD 6216.jpg|thumb|right|A tea plantation in [[Ruisui, Hualien|Ruisui]], [[Hualien County|Hualien]], part of Taiwan's agricultural industry which served as the backbone for its [[Taiwan Miracle|economic miracle]]]]
{{Main|Agriculture in Taiwan}}
Agriculture has served as a strong foundation for Taiwan's [[Taiwan Miracle|economic miracle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taiwan-agriculture.org/agriculture/eng1.html|title=Land and Natural Environment|publisher=Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan|access-date=23 December 2010|archive-date=28 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728081359/http://www.taiwan-agriculture.org/agriculture/eng1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It contributes 3% to GDP and the service sector makes up 73% of the economy. After [[Retrocession of Taiwan|retrocession]] from Japan in 1945, the government announced a long-term strategy of "developing industry through agriculture, and developing agriculture through industry".<ref name="preface">{{cite web|url=http://www.gio.gov.tw/info/taiwan-story/agriculture/eframe/frame2.htm|title=The Story of Taiwan: Preface|publisher=Government Information Office, ROC|access-date=23 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114005957/http://www.gio.gov.tw/info/taiwan-story/agriculture/eframe/frame2.htm|archive-date=14 November 2011}}</ref> As such, agriculture became the foundation for Taiwan's economic development during early years and served as an anchor for growth in industry and commerce. Whereas in 1951, agricultural production accounted for 35.8% of Taiwan's GDP,<ref name="preface" /> by 2013, it had been vastly surpassed, and its NT$475.90 billion accounted for only 1.69% of the GDP. {{As of|2013}}, Taiwan's agriculture was a mixture of crops (47.88%), livestock (31.16%), fishery (20.87%), and forestry (0.09%).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ey.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=30F733C2E2070422 |title=Executive Yuan, R.O.C. (Taiwan)-Agriculture |access-date=11 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924023724/http://www.ey.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=30F733C2E2070422 |archive-date=24 September 2015 }}</ref> Since its accession into the [[World Trade Organization]] and the subsequent trade liberalization, the government has implemented new policies to develop the sector into a more competitive and modernized green industry.<ref name="twauagri">{{cite web|url=http://www.taiwan.com.au/Polieco/Industry/Agriculture/report01.html|title=Agriculture|website=Taiwan.com.au|access-date=23 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915020546/http://taiwan.com.au/Polieco/Industry/Agriculture/report01.html|archive-date=15 September 2009}}</ref>

Although only about one-quarter of Taiwan's land area is suitable for farming, virtually all farmland is intensely cultivated, with some areas suitable for two and even three crops a year. However, increases in agricultural production have been much slower than industrial growth. Agricultural modernization has been inhibited by the small size of farms and the lack of investment in better facilities and training to develop more profitable businesses.<ref name="twauagri" /> Taiwan's agricultural population has steadily decreased from 1974 to 2002, prompting the [[Council of Agriculture]] to introduce modern farm management, provide technical training, and offer counseling for better production and distribution systems.<ref name="twauagri" /> Promotion of farm [[mechanization]] has helped to alleviate labor shortages while increasing productivity; both rice and [[sugar cane]] production are completely mechanized.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taiwan-agriculture.org/agriculture/eng3.html|title=Mechanization|publisher=Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan|access-date=23 December 2010|archive-date=28 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728081453/http://www.taiwan-agriculture.org/agriculture/eng3.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Taiwan's main crops are rice, sugar cane, fruits (many of them tropical), and vegetables. Although self-sufficient in rice production, Taiwan imports large amounts of wheat, mostly from the United States. Meat production and consumption have risen sharply, reflecting a high standard of living. Taiwan has exported large amounts of frozen pork, although this was affected by an outbreak of hoof and mouth disease in 1997. Other agricultural exports include fish, aquaculture, and sea products, canned and frozen vegetables, and grain products. Imports of agriculture products are expected to increase due to the WTO accession, which is opening previously protected agricultural markets.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}