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I. General - What is
Post-Modern Agriculture? |
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Generally
speaking, post-modern agriculture in the general classification of
agriculture is a broad category. It is makes use of technology and
integrates modern management methodologies, it is also involved with
producing agricultural products of high economic value. |
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II. What post-modern agricultures are there in the Taipei metropolitan? |
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The types and
techniques of post-modern agriculture are fairly wide in scope. The choice
of agricultural products, improvements to nurturing methods, considerations
for health and safety and the marketing of produce are all within such
scope. In general, the management style of agriculture in the vicinity of
Taipei is limited by the lack of land resources, and therefore they need to
develop towards producing products of high economic value and become
integrated with leisure and recreation, in order to survive in continuity. |
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¡´Leisure
Farming |
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Leisure farming is a
type of agriculture with the purpose of providing the general public a place
to experience the rural village. It makes use of rural landscape and natural
resources. They are also integrated with rural village cultures, produce of
farming, forestry, fishery and cattle farming and various operating
activities.
Leisure
farming is also a type of agricultural management. It is not only
distinguished in the methods of management, but also integrated living,
produce, ecology and even life. Hence, it can be said that leisure farming
combined the design and experience of agricultural activities. Their biggest
difference with traditional agriculture is that the latter involves only in
production and selling the produce. But leisure farming is different in that
it is a new agricultural management method of integrating agriculture with
service. Therefore the concepts, methods and attitude of the service
industry are used to manage agriculture. In simple words, "agriculture added
to service industry is leisure farming". |
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1. Urban Farms |
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These gardens
began in 1981. At that time the development and economic level of Taipei has
reached the status of developing Urban Farms. When the materialistic lives
of people are fulfilled, they would develop a desire to return back to the
rural nature. But they do not have their own garden in Taipei to enjoy such
livelihood. Hence "Urban Farms" have developed, leasing land to civilians
to engage in the service of experiencing agriculture, and perhaps through
such experience develop a feel of rural living. |
Urban Farms is a
good place providing urban people the experience of village living. |
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The
operators of Urban Farms omitted the processes of applying fertilizers,
sowing seedlings and treatment of bugs, allowing the civilians to cultivate
by themselves. Farmers become a facilitator, through which promote their
social status. 1989 to 1993 is the golden era of Urban Farms. Thereafter
when the government promoted organic agriculture and safety in the use of
pesticides, we can now purchase easily in supermarkets agricultural products
labeled with "organic mark" and "Ji Yuan Pu" (Safety in the use of
pesticides). So, the need for the public to plant by themselves in farmlands
has decreased, and the prosperity of Urban Farms also deteriorated. Farms
close to convenient traffic or with better service have higher demand for
leasing. But those in less desirable geographic regions and less demand for
lease need to reform themselves.
The major influence of Urban Farms on the general public are as follows:
a. For those who have an interest in gardening, they have larger space to
develop such interest.
b. Cultivating on a daily basis is a good sport.
c. Organic vegetable is not only safe to eat, but can also be shared with
friends. |
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2. Tourism
Farms |
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Various types of
tourism farm allow us to harvest fruits, vegetables and enjoy the flowers
throughout all four seasons of the year. |
Tourism farms
are different to Urban Farms. Tourism farms allow the public to harvest
directly from the farm, so the farmers can omit the process of harvesting.
Since the establishment of the first tourism farm in Zhi Nan Shan at Mu Zha
(tourism tea farm), more than 10 different types of tourism farms have been
developed. The operating method is that, nurturing is carried out by the
farmers, and the harvesting open to the public. Such type of tourism
agriculture has been developed specifically for people of the urban city,
combining local characteristics and showing unique feature, allowing
agriculture in Taipei to become equipped with the function of education,
leisure, social, environmental protection and recreation. |
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Various types
of tourism farm allow us to harvest fruits, vegetables and enjoy the flowers
throughout all four seasons of the year. |
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3. Educational
Leisure Farm |
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Educational
farm aims to introduce the characteristics of the ecological environment to
the public through introduction and learning activities, thereby allowing
the public to enjoy the beauty of the nature through such activities. With
further understanding of the plants in the living environment, they can
better experience the joy of rural living.
Currently, the Farmer's Association of Taipei city is actively promoting the
transformation of Urban Farms into educational farms - turning
"quantitative economy" into "knowledge economy". If farms of less lease rate
turn towards this development, packaging the professional knowledge owned by
the farmers and turning farmers into agricultural guides, their source of
income for the farms would change from market trading into exchange of
knowledge, allowing the public to come empty-handed and return with an
enriched soul. |
We visited Fu-Tian
Village Educational Leisure Farm Tourism. |
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¡´Beautifying
the city and sale of high economic value agricultural produce |
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1.Chien-Kuo
Holiday Flower Market |
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The Chien-Kuo Flower Market is a good place for Taipei citizens to enjoy the
beauty of flowers and make purchases. |
The Chien-Kuo
Holiday Flower Market was established in 1982 and located below the Jian Guo viaduct. This market is managed collectively by some hundreds of
farmer¡¦s association members and the market self-governing body. Each
weekend, thousands of urban visitors visit the flower market to enjoy the
beauty of flowers and make purchases. Because the farmers assisted by the
farmer¡¦s association have flower gardens in the vicinity of Taipei, the Chien-Kuo
Holiday Flower Market provides a channel for marketing their
produce. |
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The flower
market has over 200 exhibition stands selling various kinds of flowers,
seedling, fertilizers and botanical materials. The market is a place for
civilians to relax and buy flowers during the weekend. Each week the market
hosts botanical lectures and floral exhibitions so that the Chien-Kuo Holiday
Flower Market is not only a place to sell floral produce, but also
an urban garden filled with deep meanings of education. |
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2.Taipei
Floral Exhibition |
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As part of the
Taipei city overall tourism function, the floral exhibition is almost held
in every administrative district. The exhibition is held for creative
competition, various types of floral displays and combination arrangements,
theme gardens, bonsai and environmental recycling displays. Various
botanical landscaping, creativity, education and beautifying activities are
held, allowing the citizens to enjoy in the ocean of scenic beauty, and at
the same time promote the social awareness of greening the environment. |
Taipei Floral
Exhibition in Da An Forest Park. |
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