Development Plans Threaten Water Chestnut Farmers in Southern Taiwan

TaiwanPlus News

For decades, Chien Ming-shih and his family have grown water chestnuts on a farm inherited from Chien's father. But the family operation has come under threat after local authorities lifted building restrictions that could see their farm filled in due to construction.

Transcript

00:00This water chestnut farm in Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan was given to Jian Mingshi by his father.

00:06Every autumn and winter, he and his family work tirelessly to harvest their crops.

00:11In the off-season, Jian works as a car mechanic, which earns him more money than his water chestnuts.

00:17But he says the farm has a special place in his heart.

00:21Every day, he would sit by the fire and watch me pick the water chestnuts.

00:28When I sold the chestnuts, my income was good, so I gave him all my money.

00:34He was very happy. He said this was the happiest thing for him.

00:37So I took over my father's work. Now I can see the spirit of my father.

00:43But the Jian family farm has come under threat.

00:46Kaohsiung's Daliao district once boasted over 50 hectares of water chestnut fields.

00:51But two decades ago, many of these were filled in during the construction of a major highway.

00:56And now only around six hectares remain.

00:59Jian Mingshi's son says development proposals continue to jeopardize the family's livelihood.

01:06We've been planting chestnuts for a long time.

01:09One of our water chestnuts was confiscated.

01:11What do we do next year? We have to re-plan the land.

01:14We're going to cut the land in half.

01:16What are we going to do next year? It's all gone.

01:19Development in Daliao district was once limited due to the area's proximity to a nearby airport.

01:25But local authorities have recently lifted the building restrictions,

01:29prompting concern from the local community,

01:31who are keen to protect the neighborhood's centuries-old family homes and its unique agricultural history.

01:37Now that the airport restrictions have been lifted,

01:40I'm a little worried.

01:44I think we can record the history of this area,

01:47and record the history of the industry, even the stock market,

01:51before it's taken down.

01:54Faced with the threat of encroaching development,

01:57the Jian family continues to stay put,

01:59tending to their water chestnuts on a precious piece of land passed down through generations.

02:05Andy Hsu and Wesley Lewis for Taiwan Plus.

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