Mkmatuy Sustainability Plan
Challenges and Objectives
The Mkmatuy Sustainability Plan, established by Tsing Hua College in partnership with retired agricultural expert "Professor Peng" from Zhudong Community College, aims to foster sustainable development in Mkmatuy, Taiwan's Jianshi Township. This village-scale initiative, launched in 2021 and ongoing, strives to promote sustainable agriculture, restore extinct species, preserve local culture, and create tourism-driven products that attract youth back to their hometowns for employment.
This collaborative effort, operating under the same name as the project, faces challenges spanning sustainable farming practices, ecological restoration, cultural preservation, and economic growth. Overcoming obstacles involves implementing innovative agricultural methods, conservation efforts, species revitalization, and economic development. Despite these challenges, the project persists, leveraging partnerships and community engagement to drive progress toward Mkmatuy's sustainable and culturally enriched future.
Collaboration Partners and Roles
The Mkmatuy Sustainability Plan involves diverse entities for success, including National Tsing Hua University's Tsing Hua College, local villagers, an agriculture expert, cultural centers, and cooperatives. Externally, National Tsing Hua University leads coordination, while other groups provide expertise in cultural exhibits and online sales platforms. The collaboration was initiated through Tsing Hua College and Professor Peng and focuses on ecological restoration and sustainable farming in Mkmatuy due to environmental deterioration and population decline.
Revitalisation Activities
The Mkmatuy Sustainability Plan drives diverse revitalization efforts in the economy, environment, society, and innovation domains. It diversifies products with items like Litsea cubeba cookies and milk tea, enhancing sales channels through partnerships while promoting eco-tourism. Environmentally, it adopts sustainable practices and builds a butterfly garden for ecological revival. Societally, it records traditional food processes and elders’ stories, aiming to strengthen local identity among youth. Its innovative approach involves students collaborating with locals, offering new perspectives on longstanding issues. Challenges include gathering historical information and manpower shortages, which the team actively seeks to address through resource acquisition and strategies to attract youth to rural areas via tourism and school collaborations.
Revitalisation Outcome
The Rural Revitalization project, although lacking formal quantitative or qualitative evaluations, has shown promising outcomes. Initiatives like eco-friendly farming practices and the creation of a butterfly garden have visibly improved the ecological environment, setting the stage for sustainable growth. Furthermore, efforts in tourism development and preserving cultural heritage aim to draw local youth back to their hometowns, offering potential economic revitalization and enriching community spirit. While the project relies on external funding presently and isn't self-sustaining, its continuity relies on the sustained interest and involvement of both students and local residents.
Continuing with a positive outlook, the project remains ongoing, sustained by ongoing interest and involvement. Supported by external grants, the current initiatives are in progress, allowing for ongoing development and progress. Valuable lessons emphasize the critical role of strong community engagement and relationships, stressing the significance of fostering mutual understanding and connections. Leveraging the diverse resources and networks from various organizations holds the promise of amplifying the efficiency and impact of future rural revitalization initiatives.
This is the abridged version of a case prepared by AIRI Fellow Yang Tzu Yi. For further information, please email Chengchi University’s University Outreach Office at agridive@g.nccu.edu.tw.