Agricultural Experiment Station

Taiwan is founded on agriculture, which is its very root – a research hub for agricultural products! The main campus of the Agricultural Experiment Station covers an area of 40.86 hectares, with the orchard area spanning 22 hectares. The fruit tree variety garden currently preserves germplasm from 49 families, totaling approximately 800 varieties (or lines), and also maintains several rare fruit tree species. It serves multiple functions, including agricultural research, ecological education, and recreational viewing. The Agricultural Experiment Station comprises three departments: Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Protection. * Agronomy Department: Primarily focuses on research into rice, sweet potatoes, and the improvement of agricultural machinery. * Horticulture Department: Its research scope includes the conservation and cultivation experiments of tropical and subtropical fruit trees and flowers. * Plant Protection Department: Mainly researches crop pest and disease control, as well as the development and utilization of beneficial microorganisms. History Snippet: The Chiayi Agricultural Experiment Station was established in 1918 during the Japanese colonial period (Taisho 7). It was originally the Chiayi Agricultural Experiment Branch of the Central Research Institute of the Governor-General of Taiwan. After World War II, its administrative structure underwent several changes, and in July 1999, it was transferred to the Council of Agriculture. On the hill to the left of Chiayi Park, the Agricultural Experiment Station was founded in 1918, cultivating a rich diversity of tropical agricultural crops, horticultural crops, and exotic flowers.