從政治生態學探討農業政策與峨眉鄉發展間的關係

Abstract

農業政策(農政)是影響臺灣農業及鄉村發展的關鍵因素。本研究以政治生態學觀點，利用解釋鏈模式，透過重要農政及統計數據將1950-2009年劃分為糧食增產期、振興農村經濟與生產效率期及提升農業附加價值期，並藉由相關文獻與訪談等，從國際、國家、地方不同尺度，探討以農業為主體的峨眉鄉，如何在上層結構政策力量及地方能動性影響下，轉變主要農業經營(桶柑、茶、稻米及養豬業)及土地利用方式，而此轉變對人口結構及鄉村發展產生何種影響。 研究發現，隨農政轉變，稻田轉作之影響，水稻種植面積不斷縮減，而在考量自然環境與經濟等因素，桶柑種植面積因水田旱田化不斷增加。茶葉從外銷轉向內銷市場，並在健康、生態論述下，配合比賽茶制度，發展成單價高的農產品。養豬業在養豬專業區推動後，從家庭副業轉變至專業化經營。然而此專業化過程，造成環境的退化。隨農業在總體經濟重要性降低，人口外流，更因處於大埔水庫集水區內，土地開發受限，成為縣內發展較慢地區。但生態相對受破壞較少的峨眉鄉，現今發展休閒農業與觀光，提升農業附加價值，也讓鄉村經濟多元化。

The agricultural policies are significantly critical factors to the development of Taiwanese agriculture and rural areas. By using the perspective of political ecology and the model of explanation chain, the study attempts to divide 1950-2009 into three periods based on important policies and statistics: grain-gaining period, rural economy revival and agricultural production efficiency-increasing period, and value-added increasing period. Through applying relevant literature review and interview approaches, the study discusses how agricultural-based Emei is influenced by upper structual power and local agent, and then transforms its ways of main type of agricultural management (Citrus tankan, tea, rice and pig-breeding industry) and land-use from international, national and local scales. The study also tries to clarify the effects of population structure and rural development caused by transformation of rural economy. The study finds that, with changes of policies, paddy field keeps decreasing, but Citrus tankan area which replaced it is increasing when peasants take the natural environment and economy into account. Under the discourse of health and ecology, the Orient Beauty Tea becomes high unit price. The management of pig–breeding industry changes from domestic sideline to specialization after the promotion of specialized area. But during the process of specialization, it caused environmental degradation afterward. When agriculture becomes less important in macro-economy, population began to migrate to other places. Even more, due to the constraints of the Da-Pu Reservoir catchment area, land development in Emei is limited. Therefore, development of Emei is slower than other places in Hsinchu County. However, Emei can now develop its leisure agriculture and tourism based on relatively less damaged ecology. And that can help to add value and diversify the agriculture.