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Tsou Aborigines
rebuild, embrace organic farming
Staff Writer, with CNA
When Typhoon Morakot battered southern parts of the nation in 2009, it may have
severely damaged the homeland of the Tsou Aborigines who live on Alishan (ªü¨½¤s),
but it failed to extinguish their great spirit.
Members of the group, one of 14 official Aboriginal tribes in Taiwan, gradually
picked up the pieces of their shattered lives and decided last year to launch
their own ¡§organic¡¨ farm produce brand called Daso ci Cou ¡X literally ¡§the
strong Tsou people.¡¨
The brand, which has become a hit in Chiayi City, promises that all produce
carrying its label is grown without the use of pesticides and that everything
sold in traditional markets is picked fresh that same morning.
The organic produce guarantee was met with plenty of skepticism at first, with
shoppers shying away from the brand, said Kuan Pei-chu, a former accountant who
has taken up farming since marrying a Tsou farmer from Alishan.
However, after trying out Tsou produce, many quickly became repeat customers,
Kuan said.
Some even prepare breakfast for the vendors, knowing that they often have no
time to eat in the morning because of the rush to get their produce to market in
time, Kuan said.
She said that life was difficult after Typhoon Morakot destroyed their camellia
gardens and farmland, but her family refused to give in to hardship and decided
to embrace organic farming.
Yang Pei-chen, another Tsou farmer from Sinmei Township (·s¬ü), said the tribe
plans to extend its organic farming line to handmade soap, in an effort to
diversify the tribe¡¦s sources of income.
A number of Daso ci Cou organic products, such as pearl barley, tea leaves,
camellia oil, and cane sugar, have become popular among residents of Chia-yi
City, Yang said.
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