Taiwan's Contribution
to the 2023 International Year of Millets: An Overview
In Taiwan, the cultivation of foxtail millets
by the indigenous Austronesian peoples boasts a history spanning
approximately five millennia. Over this extensive period, various tribal
communities have meticulously developed a wide range of millet strains.
However, in the past century, the cultivation of foxtail millet has
faced a severe decline, primarily due to the influence of external
cultures.
In 1976, the late Dr. Wayne Hazen Fogg
(1940–2021) from the United States embarked on a mission to collect 96
distinct millet strains from 12 tribal communities in Taiwan. These
invaluable seeds were then carefully preserved within the US National
Seed Storage Laboratory.
Fast forward to 2010, when Professor Warren
H.J. Kuo from National Taiwan University expressed interest in these
seeds. In January 2011, he successfully gained access to them. Professor
Kuo orchestrated the transfer of these seeds to the National Genebank
for both propagation and safeguarding. Furthermore, a portion of these
seeds was returned to their respective tribal communities, facilitating
the revitalization of foxtail millet cultivation. This initiative has
sparked a growing movement within indigenous communities, advocating for
the revival of millets and the cultural practices intertwined with them.
The United Nations' declaration of 2023 as
the International Year of Millets has spurred grassroots organizations
to form the "Taiwan 2023 International Year of Millets Organizing
Committee." This committee has undertaken a multifaceted approach,
categorizing their efforts into three key themes: Millet Events, Millet
Culture, and Millet Restoration. In addition, they have taken on the
important task of meticulously documenting related events and news
throughout the country.
Among the notable
activities are:
1. Indigenous
tribal communities hosting traditional foxtail millet planting and
harvest festivals. e.g. Foxtail millet sowing festival of the Saiku
community, Bunun tribe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htLN2h9ck5Y ; Harvesting festivalof
the Kanakanavu tribe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DTx7oz9aRA
2. The
National Crop Germplasm Bank cultivating the aforementioned 96 millet
seed varieties in fields, inviting the public to witness their growth
during the maturity stage.
https://www.agriharvest.tw/archives/100858
3. The
Taipei Botanical Garden showcasing an exhibition on foxtail millet and
related crops.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7oicthhvrU
4. Green
Media organizing a millet forum with discussions spanning three
significant sections: Millet Revival and Culture, Millet Cuisine, and
Millet Industry. Concurrently, they are facilitating national seed
exchange events, offering opportunities for millet cuisine tasting, and
presenting a millet exhibition.
https://www.facebook.com/warren.kuo.5/posts/pfbid02xx7EnKsdo4oCVuibSt8PqNNZuZB8
rX6CygqhBtAgC3NHHMAZZu8iUYpGqP5DQhVCl
5. The
A Zhi Bao Organization hosts an exhibition that highlights their
positive outcomes of millet revival efforts, and the trilogy of their
endeavor on “Carved Panel Calendar on Millets Production”: Documentary,
Book, and Exhibition.
https://www.facebook.com/azhibao/posts/pfbid031NmeQ8LFhNXRNxR1q42JHgsHiqfajYF
mjL9LWDTCFBPQ85WPu12y5e4rawLipBbTl
Due to the extensive
nature of these activities, not all of them are eligible for
registration on the FAO's website. Therefore, a comprehensive compendium
is being compiled to record the various celebrations and initiatives of
different scales throughout Taiwan.
This compendium offers a holistic overview of the diverse range of
activities and initiatives, both large and small, that Taiwan has
undertaken to celebrate the International Year of Millets in 2023.
Millets Banquet held by《Ryori.Taiwan》and Gamaisland (1)
