Miaoli Rice Farmers Revive Wheat, Old Farmers Stand on the Wheat Platform Again

At the foot of Huoyan Mountain in Miaoli, a farmers' uprising for "Wheat Out of Taiwan" is unfolding.

10 Yuanli farmers whose combined average age exceeds 60 have formed the "Wheat Platform Group," the largest in number, oldest on average, and most determined in fighting spirit in Taiwan, embarking on an adventure to grow Taiwanese wheat.

An adventure, because in most people's impression, Taiwan's hot climate does not seem suited to growing wheat.

An uprising, because this group of old farmers must not only battle the heavens for a harvest, but also, under a global wheat market dominated by a handful of multinational grain traders, carve out for Taiwan a chance to break free from domination and reduce its dependence on imported grain.

This Huoyan Mountain "Wheat Platform Group" was only established on June 19 this year, with the formal name "Miaoli County Yuanli Township Coarse Grains Production and Marketing Group No. 1." The planted area is about 6 hectares, making it Taiwan's first production and marketing group centered on wheat farmers and dedicated to growing wheat for flour processing. Members range in age from 50 to 70, with more than thirty or forty years of farming experience and rich rice-growing expertise.

See also: "Wheat Field Rhapsody 4.9: Preparing for the Effort of 'One in Ten Thousand'" and "Wheat Field Rhapsody 3.7: A Record of Contract Farming of Taiwanese Wheat"