Organic farming takes root in Hualien

Organic farming takes root in Hualien
Date: 2007/9/5



The words of a woman buying pears in the grocery store were inspiring, "I come here because I can buy fresh pears, not because they have organic produce," she said, adding, "Can they really grow anything organic in Taiwan?"


According to Hu Mei-chang, the answer is yes. A member of the Mokichi Okada International Association, Hu has been eating organic vegetables delivered to her home by farmers for the past eight years. During that period of time, she said she had seen a marked improvement in her health, and added that the aroma and taste of organic vegetables "are addictive."


The economy's initial foray into organic farming came just a few years ago, but already people are flocking to this "new" form of agriculture. As their incomes rise, the people have been willing to pay a little more for foods that they feel will reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. Though production costs, as well as losses to insects and disease, are higher, organic farming has blossomed in the island, especially in Hualien County, which is leading this agricultural revolution.


Certification an issue


While organic farming's promise of pesticide-free produce is good for consumers, it makes life difficult for farmers. Insects can devour or damage a large portion of a crop, making it unsaleable, fit only to be turned back into the soil. Many local farmers would like to convert to using organic production methods, but the risks of failure and high associated costs dissuade most. Certificates of organic authenticity, which help farmers command a better price for their products, have thus become increasingly important.


The Hualien County Government is the only government agency in Taiwan to have set up a standardized procedure for inspecting and certifying organic produce. All organic products in Hualien must be tested 10 days prior to their marketing by a team of 15 organic specialists. The team also conducts surprise inspections of farms to ensure compliance with relevant regulations.


Three years after it began the program, Hualien's endeavors are finally paying off, as many other county governments now regularly send people to learn from their experiences in promoting the lucrative organic sector. Hualien's organic farms, which for years barely scraped by, are now largely profitable. This has convinced nearly 250 farms to make the switch in the last three years. These farms are cooperating with restaurants across the island that seek to offer their clientele a healthier dining experience.


"We are very strict in implementing our inspection and certification rules," stated Du Li-hwa, head of the Hualien County Government's Agricultural Bureau and a passionate fighter in the battle against fraudulent organic produce.


"The farmers are happy to find that they are protected and will have the extra costs and overhead covered by us. Above all, they won't go bankrupt while converting to organic," she added.


The Little Ladybug Organic Farm is the first organic farm on the island to have received certification from the Mokichi Okada International Association. The three-acre farm, located in central Taiwan's Dongshi Township, is frequented by a variety of birds and insects; bio-diversity and vitality are evident in this area.


Wu Jian-wang, the farm's owner, talked about life on the farm. "It's been a voyage of sweat, challenge and satisfaction. Acting as trailblazers, we have had to face many issues without the benefit of readily available guides and reference materials. We had to grow seedlings, make compost and collect and clean rain run-off. We even designed shields to protect vegetables from heavy downpours."


The Little Ladybug farm, founded by Wu's great-grandfather, is situated in an area known as the island's "Citrus Capital." It is not surprising, then, that Wu's ancestors grew nothing but oranges. In the past, fertilizers and herbicides were applied generously to ensure a blemish-free product. Not so easily visible was the high degree of chemical contamination.


Although Wu grew up on the farm, he did not follow in his father's footsteps. He became an instructor in electrical engineering, after which he owned and operated a successful construction firm. But the pull of the family orange groves was too strong for Wu. In 1993, Wu took over the farm from his father.


Attending a seminar on farming that year, Wu was awed to hear for the first time that crops could be raised free of chemicals. This prompted him to seek out information and advice about organic farming. After much soul-searching, he and his wife decided to cut down the orange trees and switch to organic vegetables.


Wu used the initial long period of waiting for the land to detoxify to learn as much as he could about the craft of organic farming. Carefully feeling their way forward, Wu and his wife endured many lean seasons. In some years, "there were more weeds than vegetables." Eventually, however, their efforts began to bear fruit.


Memberships offered


All those who farm organically for a living face two problems. There is a disconnect between the suppliers and consumers of organic produce. In addition, without a large and dedicated consumer base, production costs remain high. One preferred sales channel for local organic farmers is for consumers to visit and purchase produce directly. Another is subscription farming.


Wu at the Little Ladybug Organic Farm employs the latter method to maintain profitability. He currently has more than 200 members, and ships or delivers vegetables to each of them twice a week. Paying for the produce upon delivery, each member gets the same quantity of vegetables, and what each receives depends on the harvest at the time.


While startup and operational costs are high, organic farming has developed a solid following in Taiwan, and the future looks bright for this once-marginal industry.



Source:Taiwan Journal (2007-09-5 10:39:00)