Taiwan’s disappearing tobacco culture

Following the accession of Taiwan into the World Trade Organization, the tobacco and alcohol market was opened, and imported tobacco leaf became available for just 40% of the domestic price. However, the final nail in the coffin for Taiwan ’s tobacco industry was when Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation stopped purchasing domestic tobacco in 2017 in line with the implementation of the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, leaving only the memories of tobacco farmers to preserve this culture.

Zhongpu Township and Chizaki Township in Chiayi County were formerly key centers of tobacco production in Taiwan. The tobacco houses scattered throughout the region are a testament to the former tobacco industry. For many years, the son of a tobacco farmer has been photographing tobacco fields to try and preserve memories of this old way of life. Though barely any tobacco is still grown in Taiwan today, hopefully, we will find ways to preserve and celebrate the traditional tobacco culture.

以下為中文對照

台灣消逝的菸草文化

由於臺灣加入WTO世界貿易組織後，開放菸酒市場導致進口菸葉價格只有本土菸葉四成，並且配合菸害防制法推行，因此臺灣菸酒公司於2017年停止收購國產菸草。讓臺灣的菸草產業步入歷史，只留下菸農們的回憶來保存這項文化。

過去嘉義縣中埔鄉與竹崎鄉為臺灣生產菸草的重要產地，因此當地留下許多的菸樓，成為菸草文化的歷史見證者。身為菸農之子的攝影師就用照片記錄下菸田，將菸草回憶保存下來。目前在臺灣已經鮮少有菸田存在，期待對於菸田不同的紀念方式，可以將菸草文化保留下來。

照片