On June 2, the Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (TTDARES) of the Executive Yuan’s Council of Agriculture began its annual “Agricultural and Industrial School Career Discovery Course and Agricultural Management Experience Program”.

Director Chen Hsin-yen of the TTDARES stated that more young people have been returning to their homes to work in agriculture in recent years. As a result, the Council of Agriculture has planned out a special program this year to assist students and recent graduates (who have not yet begun their mandatory military service) from agricultural and industrial vocational schools/technical colleges in getting an understanding of the current state of agricultural development in Taiwan. The program offers agricultural management experiences, career discovery courses, and actual work on farms during summer (or up until graduates begin their military service) so as to make practical that which they have already learned academically. Through such activities as career discovery courses and on-site work, this program will inspire students’ interest in agriculture and allow them to get some hands-on experience. That way, they can get to know the agricultural sector early on and plan out their direction/goals before entering the industry. This training is sure to be a big help to the students, and it will also water young seeds for Taiwan’s agricultural industry on the whole.