Taiwan's organic farms are expected to occupy 5,000 hectares, or 0.6 percent, of the island's total agricultural land by 2012, Agriculture and Food Agency Director-General Chen Wen-deh said Friday.

The area for organic farming totaled 2,300 hectares at the end of 2008 and amounted to 2,960 hectares by the end of 2009.

As of this April, nearly 1,399 households in the country had become involved in organic farming and 3,150 hectares, or about 0.38 percent of the nation's farmland, were dedicated to organic crops, agency statistics showed.

The Council of Agriculture has accredited 13 non-government groups as organic product certification organizations. This year, labeling checks will be conducted on 3,000 organic products and quality inspections on 1,800 organic items, Chen said.

With the small sizes of Taiwan's farms, chemical pesticides can easily find their way from nearby plots into the soil of organic farms, Chen noted, saying that the government has designated four zones covering 262 hectares for organic production in Tainan County, Kaohsiung County and Hualien County. It plans to set aside more areas in Pingtung, Chiayi and Yunlin counties, Chen said.

The council will also help organic farmers in the zones sell their products at science parks, elementary and middle schools, and holiday markets through various sales distribution systems, Chen added.

To promote research and development of organic fertilizer, the agency plans to publish certified organic fertilizer brands on its website beginning in June. At present, there are about 500 types of organic fertilizer on the market, according to the agency.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 05/08/2010 page4)