Title: Fall in Prices to Taiwan’s Fruit Producers Brings Presbyterian Response
Taiwan Church News 2854 6 to 12 November 2006
Reported by Li Hsin-ren. Written by David Alexander
Overproduction of bananas and the consequent fall in prices has produced bitterness for Taiwan’s fruit farmers. Mountain areas inhabited by Aborigines who grow persimmons are facing a record harvest as well, and the drop in prices there has precipitated a crisis. The Aboriginal Mission committee of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) has looked into the matter and has decided not just to counsel farmers to cut back production, but to move into alternative crops which will have the potential to promote rural tourism and development.
The PCT Aboriginal Mission Production Research and Development team is working with local districts and presbyteries to give agricultural advice in the cultivation of persimmons, pears and other tree fruits. In the past a portion of this fruit was sold at Chang Hwa Christian Hospital, church related agencies and even at churches. This facilitated farmers getting good prices, and avoided profit being siphoned off by middlemen.
But, this year the harvest has been especially high and prices have fallen in the open market. The cooperative arrangements of the past cannot absorb such a large crop. Some aboriginal churches have asked their pastors to utilize personal contacts in churches on the plains to facilitate sales.
Regarding the Aboriginal Mission Committee’s role in marketing and distributing the produce of Aboriginal producers, PCT General Secretary Chang De-chien has said, “Aboriginal production development is an important portion of the committee’s work, but in the past agricultural assistance has been only one portion of a few districts and villages. Now we need to set up better communication, so that each Aboriginal district can benefit from the system, and we need to set up new ways of sales and distribution.
Rev. Chang said that this year’s overproduction of persimmons sheds light on Aboriginal management deficiencies. Quantity has been emphasized without regard to the amount of supply that can be absorbed by the market. He then pointed to the case of hospitality business. Many aborigines have established bed and breakfast facilities in their homes. People from the plains go to these mountain locations to enjoy the environment and the aboriginal culture. “If,” he says, “hospitality, culture and agricultural production can be bound up into a package, then village churches and local hostels can offer package arrangements to attract visitors. This will not only benefit village economic matters, but will be a source of life to churches and their resources.”
The focus on agricultural production as a facet of Aboriginal mission is fully in line with the PCT theme of “Creating Living Fellowship”. Also under this rubric are Aboriginal Social Advocacy and Mother Tongue Promotion.
For more information: Chang De-chien gs@mail.pct.org.tw
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