Integrated rice and duck farming protecting land and restoring ecological diversity

Located in Yuanli Township, Miaoli County, integrated rice and duck farming is a long-established tradition. Sadly, modern development has taken a hefty toll on the area’s once rich ecology. In 2002, the younger generation of local farmers decided to set up the Ecology Humanities Development Association to jointly protect the land with the residents and endeavor to return local farmland to its former pristine glory.

In integrated rice and duck farming, ducks are allowed to waddle through rice fields, eating troublesome pests as they go - the largest and most problematic pest to date is the dreaded channeled apple snail. The consumption of snails by ducks employs the natural food chain to solve ecological problems, reducing damage to rice crops and increasing the vitality of the soil. Through respecting the laws of nature, Yuanli residents are helping to restore the local ecology, maintain ecological diversity, and create more possibilities for people to reconnect with nature.

以下為中文對照

稻鴨農法護土地 恢復生態多樣性

位於苗栗縣苑裡鎮，以稻鴨農法種植稻米一直是他們的特色。因為現代化的發展，使得往日深具地方特色的生態逐漸凋零，當地農家子弟於2002年組織了生態人文發展協會，希望居民能夠一起守護土地，並找回乾淨的田園。

稻鴨農法主要是讓鴨子下稻田食用、除去害蟲，而最大宗的害蟲即是福壽螺，透過鴨子食用福壽螺，除了可以降低稻田的農損，也可以增加稻田中的活性，利用大自然的食物鏈來解決生態問題。苗栗苑裡在透過居民的共同努力，恢復大地生態、維持生態多樣性，將屬於自然的規律找回來，創造了更多讓民眾親近大自然的可能。