Excellent Work of the 5th Cyber-Island Photography Contest
Photographer: Guo-Liang Wang
Date and place photos were taken: 2001; Siluo Township, Yunlin County
 

To plough the field

I saw a farmer plowing the field with his ox. After witnessing the hard labor of farmers, I shall cherish every grain of the rice in my bowl.

Ducks in the rice field

Farmers raise ducks in their rice fields. The ducks eat weeds and pests and their feces become organic fertilizer for the rice plants. The rice plants grow better and are more resistant to pests and diseases.

To harvest

Not every year can have favorable weather, but hard work can still result in a good harvest.

Pedaling a threshing machine

We also helped to harvest and thresh. We grabbed a handful of rice and pedaled hard on the thresher.

Sun-dry rice

People believe the sun-dried rice is more delicious. So, the hotter the weather is, the better it is.

 Every grain of rice in the bowl comes from many people’s labor. This is why stories of farmers always touch our hearts. Farmers raise ducks in their rice fields. The ducks eat weeds and pests and their feces become organic fertilizer for the rice plants. The rice plants grow better and are more resistant to pests and diseases. This is the rice that farmers wish for: the dock-cultivated-rice.

Under scorching sun, the farmers harvest rice with traditional manual method. They only hope the rice can bring them enough money to feed and clothe the whole family. Not every year can have favorable weather, but hard work can still result in a good harvest. We also went to the field to experience the farming work and helped with the harvesting and threshing. We grabbed a handful of rice and pedaled hard on the thresher. I had never seen this kind of traditional harvest before. The old-fashioned threshing machine probably is no longer in use nowadays.

People believe that the sun-dried rice is more delicious. So, the hotter the weather is, the better it is for the harvesting. I looked at the farmers working hard in the courtyard under the sun and felt my heartstrings pulled. Year after year, they work so tirelessly with only a wish: a good harvest!

To view Gold Prize of the 5th Cyber-Island Photography Contest, please go to The Funeral Orchestra.

Text and images are provided by Exhibition of Cyber Island, Taiwan