Fri., Nov. 15, 2024: AGI Seminar “Economic Assessment of Weather Information Application for Taiwanese Agricultural Farmers and Its Policy Implications” (online) [finished]

We invite researchers who are engaged in research on Asia and hold AGI Seminars. Your participation is more than welcome!

*This seminar is free of charge and will be held online.

*Please refer to the following for details.

Date and Time

Friday, November 15, 2024 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am
*A question-and-answer session is scheduled at the end of the presentation.

Presenter

Dr. Hen-I Lin, Director, The Japan Center, Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER), Taiwan

Title

Economic Assessment of Weather Information Application for Taiwanese Agricultural Farmers and Its Policy Implications

Abstract

This study investigates the economic benefits of weather information services for agricultural users in Taiwan and explores the associated policy implications. In Taiwan, weather information is mainly provided by the government agency, giving it the characteristics of a quasi-public good. As a result, it is very difficult to directly assess its potential market value and economic impact. However, making good use of accurate weather data can significantly influence farmers’ decisions, such as production planning, disaster prevention, and risk management, leading to increased productivity and reduced losses.

The Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) has been utilized to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) of Taiwanese farmers for these weather services. Our findings suggest that the perceived value of weather information is closely related to the accuracy and completeness of the weather forecasts. Furthermore, farmers’ decisions to invest in agricultural disaster insurance may also depend on the quality of weather information available to them. The results highlight the need for policy interventions that focus on improving the accuracy and accessibility of weather information to maximize its value in the agricultural sector. Such improvements could enhance farmers’ decision-making, encourage broader adoption of weather-based risk management tools, and ultimately contribute to the sustainability and resilience of the agriculture in Taiwan.

Language

English presentation and material(s)

Presenter Biography

Dr. Hen-I Lin has begun his career at CIER since August 2010 right after receiving his agricultural economics PhD degree from Texas A&M University. His CSTPE team has continuously worked with Central Weather Administration (CWA) to evaluate the economic benefits of weather information applications on various sectors, investigating the needs of users, and providing policy recommendations for more than 11 years. In 2020, his team also helped CWA initiate a domestic weather industry promotion policy and established a non-profit organization, Taiwan Climate Services Partnership (TCSP), as a platform to communicate between public and private sectors. In February 2023, Lin was assigned by the CIER president to serve as the director of the Japan Center at CIER.