Chen Hsi-huang

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.