Sibao (西寶), a community in the eastern foothills of the Central Mountain Range, has transformed itself into the nation’s first completely organic farming town through its five-year collaboration with Taroko National Park.
The feat was made possible by the Tse-xin Organic Agriculture Foundation, which was commissioned by the park to dedicate 6.7 hectares of farmland exclusively to organic produce. Under the initiative, seven of the eight households in the small village in Hualien County’s Sioulin Township (秀林) are practicing sustainable agriculture.
Foundation chief executive Su Mu-jung (蘇慕容) said that through organic farming — which employs crop rotation, composting and biological rather than synthetic pest control methods — Sibao residents have forged a more harmonious relationship with nature.
Su said that 13 households in are now participating in the project, which was launched in 2010, after it was extended to three neighboring villages in Sioulin.
To date, nine households covering 10 hectares of farmland have been certified organic, Su said, adding that the aim is to keep expanding the program and establish a brand name for the organic produce its participants yield.
Organic farming contributes to greater biodiversity and a healthier environment, as well as helping farmers enjoy their work more, Su said.
Sibao farmer Chang Jung-wen (張榮文) said he joined the program after seeing some of his friends die prematurely because they did not heed the risks of using chemical fertilizers.
“I don’t want to die like that,” he said.
Eco-friendly farming practices have also been a boon to wildlife in the Sibao area, animal expert Lin Ching-feng said.
The village is now home to 13 species of mammals, eight of reptiles, five of amphibians and 46 of birds, including five of the nation’s 12 types of owls, Lin added.
As Sibao continues its organic awakening, its next mission is to maintain the biodiversity that this has brought about, Lin said.
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although
SEMICONDUCTORS: TSMC is able to produce 2-nanometer chips and mass production is expected to be launched by next year, the company said In leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing China is behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) by at least 10 years as the Taiwanese chipmaker’s manufacturing process has progressed to 2 nanometers, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said yesterday. Wu made the remarks during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee when asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) about a report published in August by the Chinese version of Nikkei Asia that said Taiwan’s lead over China in chip manufacturing was only three years. She asked Wu Cheng-wen if the report was an accurate
PRO-CHINA SLOGANS: Two DPP members criticized police officers’ lack of action at the scene, saying that law enforcement authorities should investigate the incident Chinese tourists allegedly interrupted a protest in Taipei on Tuesday held by Hong Kongers, knocked down several flags and shouted: “Taiwan and Hong Kong belong to China.” Hong Kong democracy activists were holding a demonstration as Tuesday was China’s National Day. A video posted online by civic group Hong Kong Outlanders shows a couple, who are allegedly Chinese, during the demonstration. “Today is China’s National Day, and I won’t allow the displaying of these flags,” the male yells in the video before pushing some demonstrators and knocking down a few flagpoles. Radio Free Asia reported that some of the demonstrators
RSS