A single mother of new immigrant studied planting techniques and become "sugarcane master"

According to the 4wayvoice, a new immigrant Chen Yong Ling (陳泳伶), who did not have any knowledge of farming, has learned farming skills with the help of teachers of the CHIA-YI Community University.

Although the wholesaler did not buy sugarcane due to the pandemic outbreak, Chen managed to sell the ones she planted in the small farmers’ markets because of the good quality of her sugarcanes. Fortunately, she could earn a living and support her family.

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Chen Yong Ling, the only pillar of the family, delves into sugarcane planting techniques. (Photo / Provided by the CHIA-YI Community University)

Chen is a single mother with a child studying in high school. She is from Guangdong Province, China and got married in Taiwan 20 years ago. It just happened that she got to know the sugarcane industry when she helped her neighbors to peel sugarcanes.

Later, her neighbor stopped planting sugarcane for some reason. To make a living, Chen took over the sugarcane plantation and become a full-time farmer who took care of the plantation alone.

The Siloam Holistic Care Association (嘉義縣西羅亞全人關懷協會) took the initiative to provide counseling to Chen because of her difficult times in life, inviting the teacher Hu An Qing (胡安慶) and students from CHIA-YI Community University to assist her in planting sugarcane using "natural farming" techniques.

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Welcome to visit Chen’s sugarcane stall or buy it from the store collaborated with the National Chiayi University. (Photo / Provided by the CHIA-YI Community University)

Chen says that the origin of the sugarcane she planted is from Brazil, and it is challenging to be a farmer as weeding, fertilizing, and irrigation are all done by herself. Besides, it takes at least 10 months to 1 year to harvest.

Now, Chen goes to the small farmers’ market of the CHIA-YI Community University every Tuesday morning, and she started making loyal customers and this enables her to earn a living during the severe pandemic outbreak.

Because of the high quality of sugarcane she planted, the sugarcane juice is also sold in the store collaborated with the National Chiayi University. For people who wish to support her products, please visit her sugarcane stall or buy sugarcane juice from the aforementioned store to give a natural taste of sugarcane a try.