50 Filipino Young Farmers Begin Agricultural Internship in Taiwan
TAIWAN — Fifty young Filipino farmers have arrived in Taiwan to begin an 11-month agricultural internship aimed at deepening their knowledge of farming technologies and strengthening cross-border agricultural cooperation between the Philippines and Taiwan.
The group arrived on May 19 under the Ministry of Agriculture’s “Foreign Young Farmers Internship Program,” a long-standing initiative supported by the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute since 2019. The program provides hands-on learning opportunities for young farmers from the Philippines and Indonesia, allowing them to engage in Taiwan's advanced agricultural systems, cooperatives, and agribusiness enterprises.
The Filipino interns began their stay with a four-day orientation designed to introduce them to Taiwan’s multicultural environment, agricultural development trends, communication techniques, and legal frameworks. On May 23, they completed their media orientation and were assigned to 29 host sites across the country.
During their stay, the interns will be exposed to a wide range of agricultural sectors including rice farming, vegetable cultivation, fruit tree management, seedling production, livestock, aquaculture, and recreational farming.
Officials from the Philippines’ Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and other regional representatives visited 43 Filipino interns and 25 host farms to monitor progress and ensure a supportive learning environment. A representative from the Philippines encouraged the participants during the visit, stating, “You are the seeds of Philippine agriculture. Be brave in learning, unafraid to make mistakes, work hard for yourselves, and fight for your country.”
Taiwanese farmers and host institutions were also commended for their continued support, hospitality, and commitment to nurturing young agricultural talent. Their involvement, officials noted, helps foster stronger ties and mutual trust between the two countries in the field of agriculture.
