TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Deputy agricultural minister warned on Wednesday (Jan. 15) that revising the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財劃法) could severely impact the Ministry of Agriculture's (MOA, 農業部) initiatives. The Legislative Yuan (立法院) passed the amendment in December 2024, requiring the central government to allocate an additional NT$375.3 billion to local authorities. This affects 28% of the 2025 budget after mandatory expenditures.
Deputy Agricultural Minister Hu Jong-i (胡忠一) emphasized the national importance of agricultural production, irrigation, and climate resilience. He stated that agricultural production and marketing, irrigation, epidemic prevention, climate change adaptation, and building resilient agriculture are nationwide tasks that cannot afford any mistakes. The deputy minister expressed hope that agriculture would receive special consideration amidst budget changes.
The revised Act could reduce the ministry's budget for agricultural production and marketing by at least 30%, impacting efforts to promote domestically and internationally. Hu highlighted the necessity of building resilient agriculture to address climate change, which involves preventing landslides and mudslides from forests to plains. Failure to manage these could endanger lives and property.
Hu provided examples, such as irrigation systems and river and harbor management, to illustrate the nationwide scope of these projects. He noted that these endeavors require national planning and prioritization.