A Comparative Analysis Of Specialized Farmer Cooperatives In Fujian And Taiwan

A specialized farmer cooperative is a cooperative economic entity organized bya group of farmers by sector or by industry on the basis of free will. The No.1Document of the Central Government in2013calls for the innovation of theagricultural production and operation systems, fostering and expansion of newagricultural production and operation organizations, construction of new integrated,specialized and socialized agricultural operation systems, and vigorous developmentof various forms of new farmers’ cooperative economic entities. The document pointsout the direction of the development of specialized farmer cooperatives in China.In recent years, thanks to the strong commitment of Party committees andgovernments at all levels and related government departments, specialized farmercooperatives have quickly grown in Fujian Province, playing a significant role inexpanding the channels of rural operation management, accelerating agriculturalrestructuring, promoting rural economic development, and enabling farmers tocontinuously increase their incomes. However, due to the constrains of various factorssuch as capital, technology, information and management, specialized farmercooperatives in Fujian are beset by a number of problems, such as a limited overallscale, weak stimulating capacity, narrow financing channels, and substandardmanagement. These problems prevent specialized farmer cooperatives from fullyfulfilling their roles and functions. In comparison, the farmers’ associations in Taiwanhave a sound system, standardized operations, and significant results which areevident to all. As Fujian’s agricultural foundation, productivity levels and naturalconditions are very similar to Taiwan’s, Fujian may learn from and draw upon thesuccess experience of farmers’ associations in Taiwan.This paper uses the literature research method to conduct an in-depth study onthe basis of an extensive collection of data from home and abroad as well as fromTaiwan. Using the interview and case study methods, this paper examines the currentstate and existing problems of specialized farmer cooperatives in Fujian. Employing the interview and literature research methods, this paper sums up the successexperiences of farmers’ associations in Taiwan and draws a number of lessons for thebenefit of the development of specialized farmer cooperatives in Fujian. Then,utilizing the comparative analysis method, this paper performs a comparative analysisof specialized farmer cooperatives in Fujian and farmers’ associations in Taiwan.Finally, this paper presents some concrete and feasible methods and solutions aimedat advancing the development of specialized farmer cooperatives in Fujian, such asincreasing policy publicity, raising cooperative awareness, renovating the institutionalenvironment of the development of farmer cooperatives, defining governmentagencies’ duties and responsibilities, and strengthening management and service.These methods and solutions are expected to help raise the operating efficiency andmarket competiveness of specialized farmer cooperatives so that they can adapt to thenew situations in the scientific development and leap-forward development ofFujian’s economy.