Organic Vegetables Are So Delicious That Reeves's Muntjacs and Pangolins Come on Pilgrimage

Young farmer Liu I-chuan grows organic vegetables at Neixin Organic Farm in Xindian, and they are not only loved by consumers, but even Reeves's muntjacs and pangolins frequently make "pilgrimages."

Liu I-chuan, born in 1977, originally worked in finance-related jobs, and once served as a weekend farmer in his spare time to relieve enormous work pressure. After his parents unexpectedly passed away, he realized that life is limited, so he quit his job in mainland China, returned to his hometown, and joined hands with his wife to devote himself to organic agriculture. Starting last year, he cooperated with Neixin Organic Farm, purchased part of its farmland and obtained organic certification, and under the assistance and guidance of farm owner Zhang Qingxiang and the counseling of the Agriculture Bureau, began operating his own organic farmland.

Recently, the organic vegetables produced by Liu I-chuan have been selling better and better, and the uninvited "guests" from the mountains have also been attracted. Reeves's muntjacs visit the farm and feast on crops such as sweet potato leaves and beans, and they do not even spare pumpkin leaves, which have prickles on the leaves. He and other farmer friends had no choice but to try setting up nets and making homemade "lion roar" alarms to keep the Reeves's muntjacs from eating all the vegetables. Pangolins are even more mysterious frequent visitors to the fields, often leaving large pits where they have turned over the soil searching for an insect feast, yet leaving no trace of themselves. A variety of vegetables are grown in the fields, and recently the main ones are cabbage, garland chrysanthemum, mountain celery and mustard greens. He especially recommends his own organic mustard greens, whose fibers are not so coarse and whose texture is finer, making them suitable for stir-fried dishes. Liu I-chuan said that although becoming a young farmer has brought many different challenges to overcome and learn from, the lifestyle close to the land and the ideal of eating organic vegetables for better health make him happier than before and more grounded in his heart.

The Agriculture Bureau said that in order to encourage farmers, young farmers and new farmers to jointly join organic production, it provides subsidies including land rental, certification, organic fertilizer, machinery and greenhouse facilities. Farmers can report their needs for the following year to their local farmers' association at the end of the year, and the farmers' association will consolidate the plan and apply to the New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau. Everyone is encouraged to jointly support organic agriculture and work together to protect the land organically. To taste seasonal organic vegetables, please contact the Xindian District Farmers' Association, telephone: 02-29106666. Farmer Liu I-chuan, telephone: 0937807302, search on Facebook: Neixin Organic Farm.