Edited by Mom’s Journal
Taiwan, with its fragile geological environment and severe human-induced damage, is embracing the trends of ecological agriculture and the satoyama initiative. From civil society to relevant government departments, various entities are promoting and practicing broad interpretations of ecological agriculture and the satoyama initiative in different settings.
The Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan (hereinafter referred to as the Hualien Agricultural Research Station), given that its jurisdiction includes Yilan and Hualien—two counties blessed with beautiful mountains and rivers and minimal industrial development—is particularly focused on guiding local villages and farms with the concepts of ecological agriculture and the satoyama initiative.
Four venues are actively promoting ecological agriculture and creating satoyama habitats: Sanxing Xingjian Village in the plains settlement, Fuxing Tribe and XinShe Tribe in Xinfeng Village, Fengbin Township, Hualien, and the playful and educational Taitung Tucheng Farm in Yilan. All warmly welcome visitors to book guided tours of satoyama landscapes. Meanwhile, those who wish to experience and learn from satoyama educational programs are also invited to make reservations at Yilan Xingjian Village and Taitung Tucheng Farm.
Book a guided tour of the satoyama landscape
Address: No. 26, Guangfu Road, Xingjian Village, Sanyi Township, Yilan County
Phone: 03-989-2125
Since 2009 (the 98th year of the Republic of China), Xingjian Village has transitioned into organic farming. With assistance from the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, in addition to providing technical guidance on organic cultivation, the village also organizes training courses on business management, creative marketing, and guided interpretation. These efforts aim to enhance the marketing capabilities of local farmers. The village has invited experts, scholars, and fellow farmers to participate in planning organic demonstration fields for crops such as rice, green onions, wild vegetables, and water bamboo. Through continuous experimentation, adjustments, and improvements, Xingjian Village has gradually evolved into an organic village with multiple functions encompassing ecology, production, and tourism.
In addition to rice being the primary product of Xingjian Village’s organic agriculture, one cannot overlook the village's fish-water bamboo (fish-bamboo co-culture) and fish-taro (fish-taro co-culture) organic demonstration fields. From a production perspective, Yilan’s rainy climate is very suitable for growing water bamboo, an annual crop. Traditionally, planting begins around April, with harvesting taking place about six months later. After harvest, most farmers choose to leave the land fallow to rest, but some, driven by livelihood pressures, densely plant other crops in quick succession.
The Hualien Agricultural Research and Extension Station assisted in setting up an experimental field for “fish-water bamboo co-culture” organic water bamboo. Through continuous experimentation, on one hand, the selection of fish species and stocking density—from black carp (also known as black amur) to red Nile tilapia—was studied, as was the effectiveness of these fish in controlling golden apple snails. On the other hand, analyses were conducted on the spacing between water bamboo plants and their yield, with trials using spacings ranging from 80 to 200 centimeters. The project also experimented with intercropping organic vegetables to supply school lunches. Later, someone even came up with the inventive idea of raising ducks in the fields, which quickly became a highlight in the rural area.
The farmers who participated in this experimental program began collaborating with the Hualien Agricultural Research and Extension Station seven years ago. Since getting involved in research and development, not only has there been no negative impact on water bamboo yields, but they have also eliminated the need for pesticide spraying. Moreover, these farmers have gained a second, third, and even more sources of income.
Satoyama Landscape Guided Tours – Book Now
Address:
Phone: 03-977-2222
Located along the northeastern coastline, Toucheng Farm sits on over 100 hectares of land in the Gangban Mountain area of Yilan County and has been in operation for nearly 40 years.
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The organic garden also adopts research from the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, using hedgerow planting techniques around the farmland. This helps maintain ecosystem services in the fields. In addition to providing windbreaks and blocking pollutants, it also offers habitats for beneficial organisms. These beneficial organisms include natural predators or parasitoids of crop pests, as well as pollinating insects like bees.Vibrant hedges enrich the farmland landscape and bring visual and emotional delight to visitors.
Reservation for mountainous landscape guided tour
Address: Xinshe Village, Fengbin Township, Hualien County
Phone: 0929-083-813 (Chairperson Gong Liyun)
Sinru, which means "a place where all things nurture life" in the Kavalan language, boasts Taiwan’s largest coastal terraced fields, adjacent to the Pacific Ocean and nourished by moisture carried in from the sea.The natural conditions here make the land suitable for farming. However, as more and more young people in the tribe go out to work and the population ages, an increasing number of good farmlands are left fallow, and it's gradually hard to imagine the scene of terraced fields in harvest again.
The "Eight Fools Organic Farming Area," initiated by the Xinshe Tribe Development Association, has become more than just a dream with the guidance of the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station. They have not only successfully grown delicious rice on the tribal terraces but also led the Xinshe Tribe toward organic farming and satoyama community development.
The “Eight Fools Organic Farming Area” collaborated with the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute to establish Taiwan’s first trial paddy field designed to create habitats for natural rice pests’ enemies. Based on evaluations and recommendations from the institute, Taikeng No. 2 rice was selected, and experiments were conducted using rice bran for weed control and integrated pest management materials.It also introduces Taiwan’s first terrace vegetation, planting various native flowers and grasses on field ridges to create diverse habitats for wildlife, increasing the population of parasitic wasps, ladybugs, and long-legged spiders to help control pests in the fields.In addition to creating production pathways for the tribe, organic farming is also a key part of preserving the ecosystem.And for the tribal people, what is even more important is that if tribal elders see that the youth have ideas and energy, and are willing to lease out farmland, it might attract more young people back to the tribe...
Reservation for mountainous landscape guided tour
Address: About 1 kilometer along Fuxing Industrial Road, XinShe Village, Fengbin Township, Hualien County
Phone: 0928-813-592 (Director-General Zhang Huifen)
Located in Xinshe Village on the eastern side of the Huadong Mountain Range in Hualien, 2900
The natural geographic and climatic conditions make this an ideal place for practicing satoyama concepts. The area includes two communities located upstream and downstream: the Fuxing Tribe, primarily composed of Amis people near the water source, and the XinShe Tribe, mainly made up of Kavalan people near the estuary. With rich agricultural and cultural heritage, this place seamlessly integrates natural environment and human ecology, achieving the full scope of “forest, river, village, and sea.”
In addition to providing advice based on the condition of the terraced fields, the Hualien Agricultural Research and Extension Station also offers organic rice cultivation techniques and conducts courses to teach tribal elders how to revive water terraces. After the water terraces were successfully restored, Director-General Chang Hui-fen wanted to revive the traditional crops of the tribe as well, so she sought advice from the Hualien Agricultural Research and Extension Station. The station then launched a “Cultivation and Management Class for Indigenous Specialty Crops,” which not only enhances the value of indigenous crops but also incorporates organic and eco-friendly farming practices. It emphasizes a healthy ecological environment and integrates cultural characteristics. The promoted crops are mainly indigenous specialty ones, including Taiwan red quinoa, legumes, wild vegetables, red glutinous rice, oil tea, and more—allowing the tribe to gradually develop back into “its former self” in the most simple and natural way possible.
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