Why farmers plant what they do : a study of vegetable production technology in Taiwan

This report presents the results. The primary goal of all farmers surveyed is increasing profits, followed by having a stable income, increasing production per hectare, and reducing labor requirements. The major constraints on achieving these goals are economic (labor shortage, high wages) and agronomic (pests, diseases, water). Cropping system selection is based in the uplands mainly on water availability (diseases and inadequate roads are major problems) and in the lowlands on economics (drainage is the main problem). Both farm size and location are factors in determining a cropping pattern. A study of 18 representative farms showed that: the higher priced vegetable crops have generally replaced root crops; fall processing tomato is most suitable for upland farms and fall fresh market tomato for lowlands; and intercropping cauliflower with lima beans is mutually beneficial agronomically, balances price trends, and stabilizes labor use. The major motivation of medium and large farmers is to increase income per hectare; their successful cropping systems use labor evenly through the year and minimize risk through diversified cropping. Small farmers strive to maximize income per hour worked; labor use variability over the year is of less concern. Non-vegetable farmers have the least successful cropping pattern, low income, high and uneven use of labor, and crops that fail. The methodology described here is low-cost and may be used to pinpoint cropping system weaknesses and possible improvements in other countries. The report includes 4 appendices, 32 figures, and a 21-item bibliography (1961-78).