The Ideas, Practice, Predicaments and Prospects of Organic Tea Farming on Chen Liu-he’s Lyu-guang Organic Garden

• Main Authors: Hong-Xian Lin, 林鴻憲
• Other Authors: Bin-Min Sung
• Format: Others
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/04421063063312862352

碩士 === 國立東華大學 === 自然資源與環境學系 === 101 === In order to have high-yielding cereals crops, farmers apply chemical fertilizers and pesticides to their plantation which causes soil erosion and other ecological consequences. No longer can we smell soil’s fragrances and rural areas have lost life and vitality of all beings. Therefore, the ideas of organic farming start to attract people’s attention. Based on literature review, semi-structured interview and participant observation those enthnographic research methods, this qualitative research aims to explore the ideas, practice, predicaments and prospects of Pinglin organic tea farmer Chen Liu-he. The subjects of this research are Chen Liu-he, Jing-yuan (pure spring) organic tea plant and Jing-yuan organic tea shop. The results are the following： The original ideas of Chen Liu-he’s organic tea farming in his homeland Pinglin were to “improve the environment of Pinglin” and “guard the origin of Feitsui Reservoir.” Then as he became a member of the Bliss & Wisdom Buddhist Foundation, he expanded them to “benefit the life of all beings.” Chen’s adventure of organic tea farming started from his retirement as an engineer at a Japanese enterprise in his late forties. He experienced his prepared period in 2004 then trial period in 2006. In 2009, he began his expanded period as a member of “Origin Purification Project” sponsored by Txe-Xin Agriculture Foundation. Moreover, in 2011, he undertook the responsibility as the class leader of the 8th class of Pinglin’s organic tea farmers. Since then, he was in his stable period and so far he has dedicated himself to the growth of wild tea. Regardless of the hardships of organic tea farming and the rare chance of earning money, Chen Liu-he still persists in his beliefs and makes endeavor to ecological education in his Lyu-guang Organic Garden. His predicaments are the shortage of manpower coming either from family members or outside support and the high criteria of organic farming. To solve these problems, nowadays, Chen Liu-he is devoting himself to wild-like organic tea growth making it as a feature of his products. Then the addition of manpower and marketing routes, together with the intensive interactions of consumers are also planned. In addition, the verification of green wildlife conservation label is going to make his products more meaningful for protecting the environment. As Chen, the researcher means to make an effort to our environment by making the public aware of organic tea and its benefits through this research. Hopefully, by understanding the meaning of organic farming, it will have as a consequence the public’s support for organic tea, and other organic products as well.