稻米在臺灣的生產，一直深受國家力量製肘，而從日本殖民後期到臺灣光復後，此一由上而下的制約力量更顯清楚。然而，隨著1980年代以來，臺灣積極加入國際間的自由貿易組織，以及大宗穀物進口後國人飲食習慣變遷，促使1974年以來公糧保價收購所構築的稻作農村基本框架受到撼動，從而誕生了一連串針對稻米生產的改革。其中，由於長期公糧政策下所形構的農村資源部署，造就了地方碾米廠／糧商壯大自身的物質條件，致使許多改革成效不彰。中央政府曾試圖透過產銷班組織，來培養農民自身直面市場的能力，但受限於產銷班組織的法律位階不明確，及其在農村資源分配過程中無法建立新的、被肯認的公／私界線，以致內部糾紛迭起。此後，產地認證制度雖提供了個別小農面對市場的初步條件，但卻也加速了稻作農村進入個體分化的趨勢之中。耙梳近30年臺灣稻作農村的轉變，也不難發現中央官僚的角色也從以往的積極干預，逐漸隱身成為後端的整合協調角色，表面上看起來是一個中性的過程，然而，就其實質，會發現在面對國際自由貿易組織的介入中，國家的角色已逐漸轉換為將個體打造為適應市場經濟的輔助者。

Production of rice in Taiwan was restricted by the government for a long time. However, after 1980’s, Taiwan’s government actively participated in free trade organizations, and this action made possible the selling of foreign agricultural foods under lower tariffs in Taiwan. Cheaper foreign agricultural foods and the transition of Taiwan’s dietary customs impacted the production of rice. Lots of challenges occurring after the 1980’s pushed the government to adjust its policy of purchasing rice at a guaranteed price, and this was the most influential governmental action in stabilizing rice planting villages since 1974. The policy also impacted the allocation of resources in rural society and helped local rice mills and dealers to build up their force, which also made doomed the reforms from the central government to failure. The government tried to overcome the problem by organizing farmers to deal with the market in unity, but organization combing production and selling caused lots of troubles due to its obscured legal status. The local government, by setting up a new rule of certificating the origin of rice, gave farmers a basic platform to sell their products, but this also accelerated the process of farmers’ individualization. To take a view of the development of rice farmers during last 30 years, it is not hard to find that the role of central government changed from vigorous intervention to passive integration, which looks like a neutral process but in fact, under the requirements of free trade organization, the government has become a helper in allowing farmers to adjust to the marketplace.