In recent years, Taiwan's rapid economic growth and agricultural improvement have drawn increasing public and academic attention in the Western world. Taiwan is often referred to as a country demonstrating that economic progress can be achieved if domestic resources are effectively mobilized and outside assistance is efficiently utilized1 Several recent studies attempt to analyze one or more aspects of Taiwan's past, present and future development. The objective of the present paper is to examine one aspect of the agricultural sector, namely, the increase of agricultural output during the period 1953–1964. Emphases are given to its record and contributing factors.