A value-added approach to maximizing crop revenues and minimizing wastage is paying handsome dividends for Taiwan’s farmers while keeping the country’s agricultural industry on the development fast track.
Case in point are the 500 hectares of strawberry fields harvested every December through April in Dahu Township of northern Taiwan’s Miaoli County. Berries picked at the beginning of the period are larger and attract higher prices in the market compared with those coming later in the season.
Lin Hong-jian, director of Dahu Farmers’ Association, said the organization bulk purchases strawberries to help growers increase returns on end-of-season produce. DFA has highlighted food processing over the years to raise crop value and address supply surplus, diversifying revenue sources while improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, he added.
One product benefiting from this purchasing scheme is strawberry wine. Established in 2002 with the support of the local government, the Dahu Wineland Resort is operated by DFA.
According to Lin, the range of strawberry-based products is expanding to include beer and wine, cookies, dried fruit, jam and vinegar. As sales volume increases, the amount of fruit sourced from farmers through fixed-price contracts is on the rise, minimizing growers’ production risks and securing stable income.
Jasmine is another high-value crop serving as the backbone of the economy in Huatan Township in central Taiwan’s Changhua County. The local farmers’ association has also helped spur development of the industry.
Kuo Pi-chi, director of Huantan Farmers’ Association, said eliminating the use of pesticides is one of the organization’s top priorities. HFA’s partnership with Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station in central Taiwan has improved the average yield of organic jasmine to almost 50 percent of the traditionally farmed varieties, quintupling the amount since 2013 he added.
The procurement price of pesticide-free jasmine tripled the market price of conventionally grown flowers. Jasmine obtained from contracted farmers gets processed into a wide variety of premium retail products by HFA, including coffee, cookies, ice cream, jelly, pickled plums and vinegar.
HFA complements these efforts with the Jasmine Arts Festival every summer. The event features flower picking, produce sales, sightseeing tours, tea courses and the Jasmine Huatan Pavilion of Dreams—a mecca of exhibitions, DIY classes and interactive displays.
The jasmine blossom season generally takes place from May to August, with customers flocking to the area for flower viewing and picking as well as participating in our festival activities, Kuo said. The promotion of jasmine-based food items can raise revenue for local farmers during off-peak periods, he added. (DL-E) (By Kelly Her)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
This article is adapted from “Value Up” in the September/October 2021 issue of Taiwan Review. The Taiwan Review archives dating to 1951 are available online.