SOME ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF FARM MECHANIZATION IN TAIWAN, R.O.C.

Taiwan's farm mechanization has just passed its thirtieth anniversary. During these thirty years in mechanizing its rice farming; Taiwan has progressed from toy-like small power tillers and water pumps to the larger power tillers and beyond, to the more powerful machines, tractors, and also to power rice trans-planters, combines and driers. Rice farming in Taiwan has now thoroughly mechanized and this certainly is remarkable achievement. During this period Taiwan has accumulated much experience. It has also encountered many problems, some of them already solved, some still remaining unsolved. This paper shall present major problems of farm mechanization process in Taiwan as well as highlights of Taiwan's mechanization experience.