SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM FOR CROP PRODUCTION IN TAIWAN

Modern agriculture depends on high inputs of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides for the maintenance of soil fertility and pest co ntrol and tends towards monoculture of cash crop varieties that requir e much inputs. The sustainability of modern agriculture has become a t opic of great concern among policy makers, researchers and farmers in Taiwan. ?he researches on sustainable agriculture-were conducted by va rious research institutes in Taiwan. The problems encountered in imple menting sustainable agriculture in Taiwan were discussed, basing on th e data of experimental results with regard to the following factors: ( 1) soil nutrient management, (2) input of organic matter in soil, (3) crop rotation and interplanting, (4) green manure planting, (5)minimum tillage, (6) integrated pest management, (7) non-chemical pesticides, (8) weed management, and (9) quality of organic foods. In addition, t he government policy and practice of organic farming by the farmers in Taiwan are also described.