Introduction of the Spot

To recover rice culture, the group of people at the School of Rice have made efforts for 16 years.
Taiwan has always been called the kingdom of rice. However, people in Taiwan are eating less and less rice. In 1981, the average rice consumption was 90 kg per person per year. Yet in 2018, it was only 45.61 kg. It has reduced every year to almost half of what it once was. The yearly yield of rice remains in oversupply, and rice culture seems to be gradually fading. Besides advocating for eating rice, rice culture needs to start from education in order to recover the dignity of rural villages and agriculture.

In fact, one group of people has been quietly working on this issue for as many as 16 years. They are at Rice County School in Guanshan, Taitung, at 315.6 km, Provincial Highway 9, formerly the idle rice mill and barn of Guanshan Township Farmers’ Association. Peng Yan-fang, the staff of the Association nicknamed “President,” is the backstage planner of the School. He emphasizes “from soil to mouth” to shorten the distance between farmers and consumers by planning rice making, rice DIY, and other experience activities. He also renovated the place to turn the School of Rice into an advanced base for food and agriculture education and attract more young people to join them.

Having fun and tasting delicious food in the agricultural experience activities, more and more tourists are attracted here.

The area of rice grown in Guanshan, Taitung is about 2000 ha., taking up one-third of Taitung. The rice grown here has its own brand “Guan Nong Rice.” Like Chishan Rice, “the good quality rice grown in the great mountain and water” is very popular in Taiwan. However, the industry is not booming if only the buying and eating of Guanshan Rice is being promoted.

Since 2005, Guanshan Township Farmers’ Association Leisure Tourist Service Center has been hung with the sign “School of Rice.” Starting from a small sales center, it has been gradually expanded to promote guided tours to tribes, bamboo art experiences, rice making, and rice DIY by working with the local residents. It also extends out to the neighboring school children. Families and groups from other areas have started to visit as well. The scale of the School has grown larger. Other idle space was also renovated, including the Rice Museum, Rice Carving Classroom, Rice DIY Classroom, Cooking Area, etc. In 2021, the Diverse Cultural Cuisine Classroom will be opened to blend and share new immigrants’ exotic rice culture.