TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kaohsiung's (高雄市) agricultural sector celebrated a historic breakthrough on Monday (June 16) with the city's first-ever export of premium rice to South Africa. The shipment, containing 5,472 vacuum-sealed 3-kilogram bags of "Kaohsiung 147 rice" (高雄147米), represents over 16 tons of this specialty grain. The initiative, spearheaded by the Meinong District Farmers' Association (美濃區農會), a regional agricultural cooperative in southern Taiwan, signals what officials describe as a pivotal development for the island's ambitions in the global rice market.
The prized grain was developed by the Kaohsiung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (高雄區農業改良場所), a regional agricultural research institution, which granted exclusive variety rights to the Meinong association in 2012. Since then, the association has methodically expanded contract farming operations to 500 hectares, establishing the grain as a distinctive regional product. Chung Ching-hui (鍾清輝), secretary-general of the association, credited government support programs, including the "Rice Industry Upgrading Program" (稻米產業升級計畫) and a NT$10,000 (approximately US$338) per-hectare incentive for premium rice varieties, with substantially enhancing their export capabilities.
Yao Chih-wang (姚志旺), director of Kaohsiung's Agriculture Bureau (高雄農業局), the city's agricultural regulatory agency, highlighted the strategic importance of the export achievement. The successful export of Kaohsiung rice to South Africa marks a step forward for Taiwan's agricultural products in the global market and a significant milestone in promoting Taiwan's rice culture internationally, while providing tangible support to local farmers, Yao explained. The bureau views this export initiative as part of a broader strategy to diversify Taiwan's agricultural export destinations beyond its traditional Asian markets.
Association officials emphasized that their export-grade rice undergoes extensive quality control protocols, having secured both ISO 22000 and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) food safety certifications in 2023. These internationally recognized standards verify the product meets stringent safety requirements throughout its production chain. Earlier this year, the Agriculture and Food Agency (農糧署), Taiwan's national authority overseeing agricultural production and distribution, designated the Meinong association as an elite rice production and marketing organization, further validating the quality of their agricultural practices. ◼
