TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Children’s Day went full farm mode in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei on Friday, as the area transformed into a sprawling playground for young agricultural enthusiasts.
At the agricultural playground festival, kids got the chance to dive into farm life through hands-on games and activities. Highlights included a towering straw art installation from Hualien, a giant straw maze, and plenty of tasty, interactive food experiences, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
More than 50 stalls brought together young farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses from across Taiwan, offering visitors the chance to taste local flavors and meet the people behind the produce — a zero-distance journey from farm to table. Children could explore the venue while learning about agriculture, food production, and local sustainability.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) joined the festivities, emphasizing the importance of food and agriculture education, and supporting local produce. Accompanied by Agriculture Minister Chen Chun-ji (陳駿季), Lai first visited the food education area to make mochi alongside children, according to CNA.
They then toured the maze and straw art installation, exchanging high-fives with festival-goers. Later, Lai visited the small farmers’ market, listening to vendors introduce their rice, onions, seafood products, and eco-friendly livestock.
Agriculture has long been the backbone of Taiwan’s national development. In its early years, Taiwan was a largely agricultural society, with government policies gradually boosting output, generating export revenue, and providing the foundation for industrial and economic growth, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
As Taiwan’s economy shifted from industrial takeoff to maturity, rural labor migrated to industrial sectors, leaving farms aging, labor harder to find, and production costs rising. Many farms remain small-scale, limiting efficiency, while global competition has eroded the competitiveness of certain Taiwanese agricultural products.
