Trial of Organic Papaya: The Fierce Woman of Nongyu Farm Hones Her Skills

 

 

Because fruit trees have a long growth cycle and are prone to more pests and diseases, organic cultivation is more difficult than vegetables and requires more patience waiting for the harvest. Huang Shuyue once went into debt of 40 million due to business. She said: "I have survived the difficulties of bankruptcy, so how could the difficulties of organic farming defeat me?" Her cultivation skills have been recognized by Leezen, and she has even been praised as a "fierce woman."

 

Huang Shuyue's old home is near Xintianwang Temple in Shatian Village, Yujing District, Tainan City. She used to be a boss lady, working in the construction industry with her husband, and at most they had more than ten workers. Six years ago, she switched from conventional agriculture to organic farming and chose to start with papaya, which she was more familiar with. With short hair and wearing a polo shirt, when talking about hardships, she still has the bold spirit of a boss lady. "Six years ago, when I first grew organic papaya, although I had just transitioned, the growth was very good. I told my second daughter that we could really make money, but unexpectedly, before harvest, Typhoon Morakot hit and everything rotted. There was no way to deliver at all. Organic farming really has many difficulties, but over these years, I have never thought of giving up." 

 

 

Not Afraid of Difficulties, Striving to Improve Skills

 

Huang Shuyue helped with farm work at home as a child, and in the past also grew papaya using conventional farming methods. In the first two years after switching to organic farming, Huang Shuyue's papayas sometimes were harvested 3 times a week, with output so abundant it "flooded" the warehouse, while sometimes there was no output for an entire month. Being proactive, whenever she encountered a problem, she would call the teachers at the agricultural improvement station and improve her cultivation techniques again and again. She has now successfully obtained organic certification.

 

Wang Renhuang, assistant researcher at the Kaohsiung District Agricultural Improvement Station, is a papaya expert. He believes that in recent years climate change has become increasingly severe, and huge rainfall amounts are rarely seen in decades, increasing the challenges of crop cultivation. The yield and quality of Taiwan papaya, which is afraid of rain, are also closely related to climate. "In the future, typhoons and heavy rain will become more unpredictable, and the challenges for papaya growers will become increasingly severe."

 

"I have learned many organic cultivation techniques, but sometimes I still cannot keep up with climate change." Huang Shuyue said she can only do her best to schedule production so that the growing season avoids the rainy season, and to keep the papaya plants healthy. She rents 4 jia of land to grow papaya and delivers steadily to Leezen. In addition, at Leezen's request, she also grows crops such as bananas, taro, snap beans, and eggplant. She believes that trying new crops may not always succeed, but "whether success or failure, these experiences are my own."

 

Since switching to organic farming, Huang Shuyue has consistently delivered to Leezen. She says she and Leezen share a "revolutionary bond." Even if output fluctuates, even if the appearance is poor, Leezen is willing to accept the goods, supporting her with concrete actions on the path of organic agriculture. She is very grateful for Leezen's companionship all along.

 

▲ Optimistic and strong Huang Shuyue (left) overcame the blow of bankruptcy, chose organic farming, improved her cultivation techniques along the way, and her crop quality is highly recognized.

 

Blow of Bankruptcy, Returning Home to Farm and Rise Again

 

"She is a brave and tough woman, constantly improving her cultivation techniques. She has productivity and strength." Wei Wendao, a staff member of Leezen's southern region who is responsible for visiting farmers, said that Huang Shuyue's persistent willpower left a deep impression on him.

 

Huang Shuyue and her husband were construction contractors in their early years, and because a friend defaulted on debts, they fell into debt of 40 million. For the family's livelihood, her husband still worked in construction, but changed from boss to employee. Huang Shuyue stayed indoors for nearly a year, and even had the desperate thought of "taking the children away from this world."

 

For her children, Huang Shuyue decided to stand up. She chose farming, first because she had helped her family farm as a child and was no stranger to farm work, and second because her husband attended an organic agriculture course held by the Agriculture and Food Agency, believing that organic agriculture was the future trend and that the harm of pesticides to the human body hits frontline farmers first. Therefore, he encouraged her to devote herself to organic farming. Now Huang Shuyue's 4 children have all graduated from university. She said that by enduring hardship to raise her children through university, their lives from now on will depend on themselves. "Whether they marry or are married off, I cannot give them anything more."

 

Farming Together, an Optimistic Family

 

When Huang Shuyue's son, Xu Boyuan, was studying in the Department of Civil Engineering at National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences, he often came home during vacations and was teased by friends for being "super attached to home." At 24, he is the youngest, with 3 older sisters. After graduating from university, he once worked outside, and this year he decided to follow in the footsteps of his second older sister, Xu Yuling, and help his mother run the organic farm.

 

"I see I cannot escape it. I still have to come home and help." Xu Boyuan muttered while harvesting eggplant with his second older sister Xu Yuling. Xu Yuling pointed to the tiller beside the farmland and said, "When you come home, you still get to drive a sports car. What is bad about that?" While listening to her children bicker, Huang Shuyue sat in the work shed sorting freshly harvested eggplant, then said that after several consecutive days of heavy rain last week, "the papayas were all water-damaged and completely returned, but fortunately there are still some eggplants that can be delivered."

 

Having passed through the period of bankruptcy and now standing up again, with her family supporting her through action, Huang Shuyue speaks in a calm tone, but every sentence is firm. "Now, as for money, for our family, as long as it is enough, that is fine. I believe people have an afterlife. Growing organic is good for the environment and for people. Although environmentally friendly cultivation often faces difficulties, this is like life. Difficulties are always unavoidable, and there will always be a chance for things to turn around."