Chen Hsi-huang | |
---|---|
陳希煌 | |
Minister of the Council of Agriculture | |
In office 20 May 2000 – 31 January 2002 | |
Preceded by |
Lin Hsiang-nung (acting) Peng Tso-kwei |
Succeeded by | Fan Chen-tsung |
Personal details | |
Born | Taihoku, Taiwan, Empire of Japan | 18 December 1935
Nationality | Taiwanese |
Alma mater |
National Taiwan University University of Georgia |
Occupation | agriculturalist |
Chen Hsi-huang ( Chinese: 陳希煌; born 18 December 1935) is a Taiwanese agriculturalist who served as Minister of Agriculture from 2000 to 2002.
Chen was born in Taipei (known as Taihoku under Japanese rule) and earned a bachelor's degree from National Taiwan University before obtaining a master's degree and doctorate from the University of Georgia in the United States.
Chen worked for the Sino-American Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction, a predecessor organization to the Council of Agriculture, upon his return to Taiwan. [1] In 2000, he took office as head of the Minister of Agriculture. In this position, Chen was responsible for long-term disaster relief efforts resulting from the 1999 Jiji earthquake. He organized a disaster prevention center after a June 2000 aftershock, [2] and worked to stop mudflows from causing further damage. [3] [4] Chen also ordered a six-year initiative to reduce the number of betel nut plantations in order to lessen the effects of soil erosion caused by betel nut trees. [5] During his tenure as COA leader, Chen supported the work of rural credit cooperatives geared toward farmers and fishermen, [6] and sought to lift restrictions on Chinese employees of Taiwanese fishermen. [7] After Typhoon Toraji hit Taiwan in July 2001, Nantou County legislator Tsai Huang-liang stated that Chen's policies unfairly burdened betel nut producers, making them scapegoats for erosion. [8] Chen recognized that Nantou County should be reforested to prevent future typhoon damage, but rejected a proposal to use helicopters, stating that there were more effective ways to seed the mountainous area. [9] It was reported that Chen would step down from the COA in January 2002, [10] and he was eventually succeeded by Fan Chen-tsung.