The Champion Contest requires the source to be assuring, safe, and traceable
The AFA indicates that to encourage farmers to produce higher quality rice, it has been holding National Rice Quality Competition since 2004, but this year a change has been made to recognize individual farmers of their efforts in advancing cultivation techniques and rice safety. In this newly introduced competition, over 500 farmers from 63 countrywide townships were divided into Superior Rice Division and Organic Rice Division for ranking. With the intent to highlight the image of assuring, safe, and traceable, rice enrolled in Superior Rice Division must carry traceability QR-CODE, TAP label, or certification of in-conversion to organic; those who participate in Organic Rice Division must have their cultivated farmland certified in organic certification with no pesticide residue detected. These source management schemes can effectively relieve consumers of their safety concern.Overcoming rounds of adversity, Lu Li-wen and Lu Li-yang won the championships with their Taoyuan No.3 rice
Before entering the national round, contestants must first qualify through preliminary rounds in their township and clear the tests on pesticide residue and variety DNA identity, and this year only 78 farmers managed to make it that far. After carefully evaluating their physical characteristics, chemical attributes, and sensory performance, the top three awards of Superior Rice Division from first to third went to Mr. Lu Li-wen from Bade District, Taoyuan City and his Taoyuan No.3 rice, Mr. Wu Sheng-chang from Taitung County and his Taiken No.2, and Mr. Chen Cheng-li from Zhubei City, Hsinchu County and his Taoyuan No.3; on the other hand, the awards of Organic Rice Division from first to third went to Mr. Lu Li-yang from Xinwu District, Taoyuang City and his Taoyuan No.3, Mr. Chen Jun-xiong from Fuli Township, Hualien County and his Tainan No.16, and Mr. Zeng Peng-zhang from Chishang Township, Taitung County and his Kaohsiung No. 147.The AFA iterate that winners achieved their remarkable results by cultivating in respect to the local environment, climate conditions, and variety characteristics. The AFA will continue to advice farmers’ associations to be mindful of environmental elements in selecting proper varieties for regional farmers to cultivate. Also an enhanced marketing approach of 3Q (the Quality in Variety, Product, and Branding) and 2A (Assurance of Mind and in Safety) will be taken to build a sense of collaboration among individual farmers. The improved cultivation techniques, rice quality, and brand images can all benefit the competiveness of Taiwanese rice and in turn will lead the growth in domestic rice consumption.