TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's agriculture minister pledged Wednesday (March 26) to secure additional government funding to protect farmers from potential electricity price increases that could threaten their already thin profit margins. During a closely watched Economics Committee session at the Legislative Yuan (立法院經濟委員會), Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) responded to legislators' mounting concerns about how energy cost hikes might undermine the agricultural sector's competitiveness. The commitment signals growing tension between Taiwan's energy transition goals and efforts to maintain affordable production costs for its vital farming communities.
Minister Chen disclosed that the ministry has allocated NT$2.624 billion (around US$79.5 million) for electricity subsidies in its 2025 budget. The figure represents a complex calculation following legislative review that trimmed more than NT$1 million (around US$30,303) from the original proposal and eliminated a separate NT$122 million (around US$3.7 million) subsidy previously earmarked by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA, 農業部). Ministry officials explained that 2025 marks a significant policy shift, as Taiwan Power Company (台電) had historically absorbed these cost differences internally. The coming fiscal year will be the first time a dedicated line item for agricultural electricity subsidies appears in the national budget.
During the committee hearing, Minister Chen acknowledged that the current budget was prepared without factoring in potential electricity price increases, which remain speculative at this point. "We developed these subsidy calculations based on current rates," he explained to legislators. The minister offered reassurance to the agricultural community, emphasizing his commitment to approach the Executive Yuan (行政院) for supplementary funding should energy costs rise during the fiscal year. This proactive stance reflects the government's recognition of agriculture's strategic importance to Taiwan's economy and food security, particularly as farmers face multiple challenges from climate change to international competition.
