News
Three awards reinforce Taitung's reputation as "Motherland of Rice "
2006.09.23 / Central News Agency / Translated by Taiwan News Su Chueh-yu
Taitung County has always been celebrated as the "Motherland of Rice " , a reputation again reinforced in this year's 4th National Rice Competition, in which three townships in the eastern Taiwan county won second and third prize and an honorable mention.
The competition's results were announced Monday, with three townships sealing a victory - Chishang, Guanshan, and Luye -- all of which share the region's sweet water and clean environment.
However, Chishan rice failed to win first prize as it has done the past three years, due to a slight difference in scores.
Chu Chin-jun, director of Luye township's agricultural association, said one of the reasons for this subtle difference is the typhoon that arrived during the harvest period.
The other reason, he added, is that chefs prefer "aromatic rice," and one of the judges this year is a chef -- an advantage for Tainan county's Houbi rice, which captured first prize.
Chiang Gong-rey, rice expert from the Council of Agriculture, said Taitung County is still the biggest winner, with all three townships being awarded this year, and that it has consistently demonstrated a high quality of rice production over the past three years.
Taitung County has been known as a district that produces high-quality rice for several years, he added.
"Taitung county's weather, soil, and water offer the best environment for rice cultivation in the world, especially thanks to its unpolluted natural resources,"Chiang said.
