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Creating a New Look for Terraced Rice Fields

2020-03-23

To help farmers handle the problems associated with the sloped edges of terraced fields and give a new look to the landscape of farming villages, the Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (TTDARES) of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan held an event called “Creating a New Look for Terraced Rice Fields” on March 11, 2020, at the Changguang Industrial Road Demonstration Area in Changbin Township. Those who attended included representatives from private and public organizations as well as farmers for a total of about 70 in all. TTDARES Director Chen Hsin-yen stated that terraced rice fields are a feature of Taitung, especially those that lie between Changbin’s majestic Mt. Jingang and the vast Pacific, a place no tourist would want to miss. However, these beautiful fields among the natural scenery are hard work for the farmers who manage them, dealing with weeds on the sloped edges of the fields being especially difficult. At the event, the TTDARES introduced a management technique of growing trailing lantana as a groundcover along the slopes to not only make weed management much easier but also beautify the fields, giving their slopes the look of purple cascades. The new technique and event are part of the effort at maintaining a healthy, green ecology by reducing dependence on herbicides while decreasing the amount of time growers need to spend cutting weeds with brush cutters. And the resulting beauty is sure to have a good effect on local tourism.

 

TTDARES Director Chen Hsin-yen hosts the event. Assistant researcher Liao Jingying talks about using trailing lantana as a groundcover for terraced rice field slopes. Growers look at a trailing lantana plant.

Lin Xin-fu, a local rice farmer, shares about his experiences using trailing lantana as a groundcover on his slopes. Attendees observe trailing lantana in use as a groundcover on the slopes of terraced rice fields.

The use of trailing lantana as a groundcover on the slopes helps control weed growth while giving the area a new look.

  
 

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