The Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (TTDARES) nominated Zhuang Zheng-xiong of Beinan Township as the representative competitor from the Taitung region in the 2015 National Top Ten Outstanding Farmers Honor competition. Subsequently, Zhuang indeed won a spot among the top ten. In all, there were 22 contestants, each hailing from elite levels of the agricultural, forestry, fishery, and animal husbandry industries. After competitions at the levels of town/township, city/county, and region, the Executive Yuan’s Council of Agriculture (COA) formed a judging panel of experts to choose the top ten outstanding farmers and the top twelve model farmers. The results of the competition were posted by the COA on February 6.

Zhuang has actively promoted the atemoya industry in Taitung, and in concert with the government’s export policy, he has helped increase the amount of business each year. Zhuang is also the director of the Atemoya Growing Area in Taitung, holding “health” and “safety” as his philosophies of operation. He has furthered a comprehensive marketing system through the “Wan Shi Jia” brand, and by working with the different recreational agriculture industries in Chulu, he has created a new value for the atemoya industry. Zhuang’s achievements were viewed as quite unique and really stood out during the competition.

The Council of Agriculture will hold an award presentation ceremony as a way to commend the contributions put forth by these outstanding individuals in the field of agricultural technology innovation and sustainable rural development in Taiwan. Zhuang’s particular successes will serve as models for farmers young and old, driving the overall development of Taitung’s agriculture industry.