Yan Jung-hong, the leader of the first Medicinal Herb Production and Sales Class under the Tainan City Council on Agriculture, describes himself as a technological fisherman with constant thoughts of innovating new techniques for local agricultural and fishing communities. His involvement in eco-culture has included fish-raising with medicinal herbs, and researching energy-saving watercraft and solar-powered dryers.
Clad in a wetsuit and preparing to enter the water to clear overgrown weeds from an experimental fish pond, Yan says, “The water in the fish ponds has to be sent out for testing every month for quality control.” He chose to replace traditional fishpond management with a scientific approach, leaving him with higher yields of mature fish and shrimp.
Yan, a graduate of the Math Department at National Cheng Kung University and holder of a Master’s in Biotechnology Management from National Sun Yat-sen University, used to run a cram school, but went back to take over the family’s fish-raising business seven years ago when his father became gravely ill.
Yan adopted the same model used on organic farms, and never adds chemicals to his ponds. He operates a modern, technologically controlled operation in raising his fish and shrimp, and has become well-known under his “Taichiang Herbal Fish and Herbal Shrimp” brand name. After a number of years in operation, his name has become known far and wide.
Because Yan does not use any herbicides, there are weeds all over his ponds. One pond is almost choked with them. Yan points to the waterfowl swimming in the middle of one pond. He once toyed with the idea of using herbicides, but dumped the thought eventually based on the idea of harmony in Nature and all organisms getting along with one another.
“Later on, I heard from some of the old-timers that fish would eat certain kinds of floating weeds, so I decided to try not feeding them for a week. In just three days, all the weeds were eaten out of the pond, and I didn’t have to buy chemicals or pay anyone to handle them, either.” Yan can’t help but laugh at the outcome.
Yan also took a community herb class, learning all the lore about these plants, and tries to add some Chinese medicinal herbs to his fish feed. The results have been encouraging, even leading to orders from biotechnology companies, and the acreage he now has under herbs is growing constantly. Last year, he obtained his certificate of organic practice from National Cheng Kung University, making his the country’s first organic herb production and sales class.
Yan set up the Taichiang Organic Production Cooperative and is working with NCKU professors to develop a series of energy-saving organic tools, including an energy-saving watercraft that won the gold medal at the Geneva International Invention competition. Yan’s overturning of entrenched traditional ideas has attracted considerable people from industry and academia in recent years to learn more about his methods and experience.
