Development and Evolution of Taiwan’s Farmer Association

• Main Authors: Chun- Lung Lin, 林俊龍
• Other Authors: Jen-shouYang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2005
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/99429680248833904501

碩士 === 國立雲林科技大學 === 企業管理系碩士班 === 93 === Farmer association (FA) is one of the most important farmer organizations in Taiwan. The organization, serving as a bridge between the government and the farmers, has being heavily relied and trusted by the farmers and significantly contributed to the development of Taiwan’s agricultural industry since its establishment. However, due to FA’s organizational structure, it can be easily manipulated by its chief executive officer (CEO). This manuscript analyzes the current drawbacks on the election, responsibilities, and power of the CEOs based on election procedures and personal experience of the author. In addition, the FA’s organizational structure is compared with those of two other farmers’ organization. Based on the results of the analysis and the suggestions of other experts, a new model on the election procedures of the FA’s CEO and modification on the responsibilities and power of the CEO is provided. The CEO is suggested to be elected by the members of the FA rather than by the members of the FA’s council committee. This is to decrease the probability of bribe and power abuse and increase the efficiency of FAs. This manuscript also discusses the use of paid-in-capital system (PICS) to alter the current situation of FAs. This was done by investigating the sources of the FAs’ capitals and interviewing persons who are familiar with the PICS before 1974. PICS is the focus for the evolution of FAs suggested by most experts. Its abandon in 1974 is blamed for the lack of loyalties of farmers to FAs. However, even with the PICS, lack of loyalties of the farmers is still a major problem for the cooperative productive system in Taiwan. Therefore, PICS is not the penicillin for problems that are plaguing current FA system. For PICS to be implemented, broad aspects of issues need to be considered, including the valuation of FA’s property and equity, tax calculation, budget for market development. Thus, it is better to view the FA’s role as a policy implementation agent, which is public service oriented and help the government implement its agricultural development policies. This way, the farmers can be directly benefited from the FA’s function. Accordingly, the following are the suggestions of this manuscript. 1. Clarify the legal standing of FA: Is FA a nonprofit legal cooperation that serves the public or an integrated cooperative economic entity? This manuscript suggests the FA to be a nonprofit legal cooperation with goals to help its farmer members elevating their business and improve the quality of life for its regular members. 2. Encourage the involvement of members on FA’s affairs: In addition to clearly define the qualifications, duties and rights of its member, this manuscript suggests to empower its sponsor members with the right to vote (current regulations only allow one seat in the FA’s supervising council from all the sponsor members). This is because for FAs to grow and develop, the support from the farmer members is insufficient; rather, it needs the support from all the members. 3. Mandate the inclusion of experts in the FA’s executive and supervising councils: The interaction of experts or scholars and farmer members help the development of FA. 4. Maintain the current system of independent execution and supervising entities: The role of CEO is characterized as a professional manager. The CEO should be elected by all the members rather than by the execution council, which is currently the case. 5. Modify the organizational structure: The execution and supervising councils and CEO must be responsible to the members. 6. Clarify the FA’s role as a policy implementation agent: FA must serve as a bridge between the evolving governmental agencies and the developing farmer villages in Taiwan. Without switching to PICS, it is possible to solicit the attention of non-farmers to the development of FAs by increasing the number and encouraging the participation of non-farmer members. Empowering non-farmer members with the right to vote and elect CEO will increase member involvement and decrease the possibility of bribe during election. The prevention of bribe by increasing the voting base needs to be further studied.