A Green Grain Beneath Mt. Yushan
Preserving the Ecosystem and Passing Down Wisdom Through Organic Farming

Nestled among the mountains, the rice paddies of Nanan resemble a single grain of rice when viewed from above. Here live the Bunun people who have cultivated about 30 hectares of paddy fields along the streams, forming what is perhaps the purest farmland at the foothills of Yushan National Park.

Traditionally, the Bunun grew millet and other grains. However, during the Japanese colonial period, they were relocated, somewhat forcibly, to the lower altitudes and introduced to rice farming, a shift that gradually altered their cultural and dietary landscape. After the war (World War II), rice cultivation continued in the village, but along with the introduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These changes disrupted the once-thriving ecosystem—fields grew silent, the air carried a scent of chemicals, and children no longer played in the fields.

In 2013, a turning point arrived. With the joining hands of Yushan National Park Service Office, E.SUN Bank, the Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation, and local farmers, Nanan embarked on a journey of organic farming revival. The transition was fraught with many challenges—increasing demands in labor, drastic reductions in yield, and the relentless devastation of rice seedlings by golden apple snails—all of which left farmers anxious, frustrated, and disoriented.

Yet, over time, the ecosystem began to heal with organic farming. A moment shimmered with hope came in 2016: the Aphyocypris kikuchii, a rare species of minnow that had nearly vanished from eastern Taiwan, was now found in the fields. With this rediscovery, the farmers became their guardians. Beyond mere rice cultivation, they began reshaping their fields, carving out various ecological ponds and earthen channels to provide the minnows with a habitat to live and reproduce.

Previously bare and lifeless embankments, once scorched by herbicides, were transformed with various native flowering plants, thanks to support from the Hualian District Agricultural Research and Extension Station. Farmers also revived traditional Bunun crops along these ridges, further enriching the biodiversity. As more farmers adopted the organic philosophy, they embraced the movement by transitioning their own farming practice.

The farmers also became educators—welcoming visitors, sharing knowledge of ecological restoration; they took children to explore through the fields to learn about the crops and little creatures that thrived in nature; they also introduced to the younger generation a set of traditional skills such as stone masonry, foraging and farming, ensuring the heritage of wisdom would endure.

The organic farming movement in Nanan is a collective effort, made possible by the unwavering effort of the farmers in Nanan, the guidance of Yushan National Park Service Office, the sponsorship of E.SUN Bank, the support of the Tse-Xin Foundation, and the expertise of the ecological specialists. As a result, this endeavor has not only revitalized the farmlands and restored endangered species in the foothills of Mt. Yushan, but also rekindled the farmers’ sense of responsibility to cultivate a legacy, reconstructed their connection [to all living beings], and rejuvenated the indigenous culture and heritage of the Bunun people.