Taipei, May 16 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan passed a law Tuesday to upgrade the status of the Council of Agriculture (COA) to a stand-alone ministry, introducing new offices under it to address challenges such as climate change.
The ministry, established under the Organic Act of the Ministry of Agriculture, will have a larger workforce and budget to better promote rural development and the welfare of local farmers and fishermen, said COA head Chen Chi-chung (陳吉仲) at a press conference.
For instance, the COA's Forestry Bureau and the Forest Conservation and Management Administration under the Veterans Affairs Council will be merged into a single agency responsible for handling Taiwan's forestry and nature conservation.
There will also be a new department in charge of animal welfare in the wake of the increasing popularity of pets in Taiwan to make sure animals are properly treated, according to the COA.
Meanwhile, more trade regulations in line with global standards, such as those imposed by the European Union, will be introduced to improve the welfare of laboratory animals, the agency said.
Another new department will direct sustainable use of natural resources based on the plans of Taiwan's government to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, the COA said.
The introduction of the new department won praise from experts, including Lin Kuo-ching (林國慶), a professor at National Taiwan University's Department of Agricultural Economics.
Calling it an "advanced decision," Lin agreed with the department's goal to practice circular agriculture -- which focuses on using minimal amounts of external inputs, closing nutrients loops, regenerating soil and minimizing the impact on the environment, according to the United Nations.
The new ministry will hire an additional 530 personnel to its current 4,770-member workforce, while its budget will increase by NT$8.3 billion (US$270.4 million) to a total of NT$158.9 billion next year, the COA said.
The overhaul will take effect on a date to be decided by the Cabinet.
