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Wistron Foundation’s Shuanglianpi Project 2023 Review: Eco-friendly Farming
There is a small Hakka settlement near Shuanglianpi. During the Japanese colonial period, the ancestors of the current residents migrated to this area from Taoyuan and Hsinchu area, crossing mountains on foot, to establish their lives here. The elders living in the settlement today are mostly second- or third-generation residents. Born and raised here, they have relied on farming to make a living. The conventional farming methods involving the use of pesticides have long been an essential part of their livelihood. However, rainwater often washes these pesticides and fertilizers into the lower-lying Shuanglianpi, affecting the water quality and the organisms within.
Camera traps in the eco-friendly contract farmlands have captured images of various protected wildlife: the Formosan serow (top left), the crab-eating mongoose (top right), Swinhoe's pheasant (bottom left), and the masked palm civet (bottom right).
Wistron Foundation has supported the Society of Wilderness in protecting Shuang-lian-pi for many years. Through contracts with farmers, the Society of Wilderness has promoted eco-friendly farming practices—eschewing the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers—creating a welcoming environment for all creatures. From frogs, butterflies, and snails to wild boars, Formosan macaques, and muntjacs, we share this land—or rather, the delicious crops grown here—all together. In 2023, we even recorded protected animal species such as Swinhoe's pheasant (Lophura swinhoii), the Formosan serow (Capricornis swinhoei), the crab-eating mongoose (Urva urva), and the masked palm civet (Viverricula indica taivana) in Wistron’s contract farmlands, demonstrating that pesticide-free, eco-friendly farming truly benefits wildlife. With the security of contract farming, farmers transitioning to eco-friendly practices no longer need to worry about income loss due to pests and diseases. They can experiment with organic materials and natural fertilizers, finding a new balance between agriculture and livelihood.
Apart from traditionally grown crops, they have recently collaborated with farmers to trial new crops suited to the climate of Shuanglianpi, using eco-friendly farming methods. Passion fruit, Angelica, and Salvia miltiorrhiza have been tested as demonstration crops for the community. Passion fruit, a climbing plant that grows on trellises, has garnered interest from non-contract farmers because it reduces the need for weeding underneath, leading to a decrease in herbicide use, which benefits the water quality of Shuanglianpi. We hope that by experimenting with and establishing successful examples, more farmers in Shuanglianpi will be encouraged to try eco-friendly farming, dispelling the notion that only conventional methods are profitable. Meanwhile, various crops suitable for winter, such as leafy greens, and summer crops, like gourds, have been trialed in the contract farmlands. These include flame lettuce, potatoes, mustard greens, chrysanthemums, yams, cauliflower, cabbage, bitter gourds, pumpkins, loofah, wax gourd, eggplant, cherry radishes, carrots, and Okinawan spinach. The goal is to explore a variety of crops that could bring more possibilities to farming in Shuanglianpi.
Products from contract farmlands, from top to bottom, include flame lettuce, potatoes, mustard greens, chrysanthemums, yams, cauliflower, cabbage, bitter gourds, and pumpkins.
The products from contract farmlands are donated to local institutions in Yilan that are in need within a few days of harvest. These include the Eden Social Welfare Foundation, DER AN Family Care Association, Shuanghu Community Development Association - Changqing Kitchen, AGAPE Food Bank, Tzih Huai Social Welfare Foundation, and Lan-chui Social Welfare Foundation, totaling six social welfare organizations. A total of 2,305.7 kilograms of products have been donated, benefiting approximately 1,225 people. This ensures that the produce reaches those in need while still at its freshest.
The products from the eco-friendly contract farmlands are donated to local social welfare organizations in Yilan.
Thanks to the joint efforts of the Society of Wilderness, the community, and numerous volunteers, we have been able to continue practicing eco-friendly farming and treating the land with care. This not only allows us to share the harvest with more people but also fosters harmony with all the creatures that call this land home.