Later, in order to meet demand from Japan, the government actively promoted the production of short grain rice, and cultivation increased, peaking at 660,000 hectares in 1977. Production of long grain rice, on the other hand, declined rapidly. In 1980s only some 20,000 hectares were planted with it-a level that has been maintained ever since.
後來為因應外銷日本市場的需求，國民政府又積極獎勵蓬萊稻生產，蓬萊稻栽培面積逐年上升，至民國六十六年時，達到六十六萬公頃的最高紀錄；秈稻面積則逐年下降，至民國七十年代只剩二萬多公頃，目前一直維持在這個水準。