CyberFair Project ID: 7905

Close this Window

NOTE: Due to URL changes, some links may no longer be valid.

International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Expert in Milkfish Farming Huang Guo-Liang
Category: 1. Local Leaders
URL: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2015/gsh7905/index.htm
Bibliography: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2015/gsh7905/narrative04.htm

School: Jhaigang Elementary School
    Tainan Municipal, Taiwan, Taiwan

5 students, ages 11-12 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 3, 2015. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2013,2014

Classes and Teachers: Chou,Chun-Lin

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://163.26.103.1/xschool2014/

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

The area where we reside is called the Xuejia District, located in the northwestern part of Tainan City. Being close to the coast, the land has a higher level of salinity. The Bazhang River, Jishui River and Jiangjyun River flow through the region, and given the flat terrain, flooding is frequent during heavy rain.

The early residents of Xuejia District were the Pingpu Siraya tribe (Xuejia branch of the Soulang Community). Later, the Han Chinese migrated to Taiwan and settled along the river before moving further inland and developing the area into the Thirteen Villages of Xuejia, hence making Xuejia a Han Chinese settlement. The residents primarily worship Emperor Pao-sheng of Ciji Temple (Level Three Ancient Monument). Religious activities such as the Xuejia Fragrance (a pilgrimage procession) and the Upper White Reef (yezu ceremony) were further developed and became major religious and cultural activities in Tainan City. Moreover, the temple also specially constructed a Koji Pottery Museum to house and preserve works of Koji pottery by Yeh Wang.

Due to its proximity to the sea and higher soil salinity, we mainly specialize in milkfish farming, milkfish fishball production and cultivation of drought-resistant and salt tolerant crops such as sorghum, corn, watermelon and cherry tomatoes. Our line of milkfish products, watermelon and tomatoes are famous throughout the nation, and visitors to Xuejia must try these specialties to make their trip worthwhile.

2. Summary of Our Project

Milk fish are the distinctive industry in the coastal area of southern Taiwan where fish farms can be seen everywhere. In addition, you can enjoy dishes made with milk fish in almost every food stand, so they can be considered the most representative refreshments of Tainan. Bi-Tian Huang and Guo-Liang Huang, father and son, adopt a toxin-free breeding method and improve water quality with living probiotics and molasses. They have won the honor of being Taiwan’s traceable agricultural product (TAP) experts and are qualified to register fish farms in European Union. In addition, the milk fish product of Changying Seafood Restaurant run by the father and son was selected the 1st Mother Tian Top Ten Specialties in 2014. Although the output of their milk fish is not as much as others’, they think profits are not as important as making consumers relieved. Compared with other black-hearted corporations, the dedication of Bi-Tian Huang and Guo-Liang Huang is worthy of our emulation and approval. The project first introduces the milk fish farm and store of Bi-Tian Huang and Guo-Liang Huang to let everyone understand their breeding and management ideas. In addition, data analysis has been employed to comprehend the local industry. We cannot merely get to know the industry, but instead, we should also attempt to think about new cooking styles to discover a new path for the industry step by step.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:more than 50%

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:more than 6

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:more than 6

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

1)Personnel Gathering and Time Arrangement: The school courses have a stable time schedule, and there are no empty time sessions to use. After school, everybody has their own day care classes to take. It is hard to gather everybody. Therefore we can only use lunch breaks and holidays to gather and discuss the structure of the topic, outline of the interview, and to carry out the interview. 2)Interview techniques need more training: The topic of this research is a local art issues, therefore giving a interview in person is a very important experience. Many information has to be obtained through the interview. But to tell the truth, we have no experiences on interview, and do not know what questions should be asked. Focusing on this difficulty, our teacher let us watch a film of a interview conducted by a television host. We discussed the technique and demeanor that needs to be paid attention to during the interview, then we carried out a simulation of the interview. After repeated practicing, when in formal interview, everybody can ask questions orderly, and record quickly as we conduct the interview.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

Prior to our research, there were incidents of tainted oil in Taiwan, which reveled a series of food safety related issues, and also tarnished the government's credibility for labeling quality food seals, such as CAS and GMP. These incidents emphasized the importance of quality inspection during the processes of food production, and also indicated that food safety relies on ethical standards of producers.

6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?

It is the third year since Zhai Gang Elementary school has collaborated with the Cyber Fair to conduct research, and each research subject is about a local custom or industry. Our subject of study this time is about a fisherman's restaurant, although it's not a prominent landscape, the Huangs' concepts of ethical operation in their business is indeed exemplary, providing students in the area with concrete knowledge of ecological sustainability and moral conduct through field trips. This is a part of humanity that has been gradually lost as our society has slowly moved towards profit-driven motives. This subject can help us not only learn about our local area but also provide a reference on moral and environmental education.

Top
Project Elements

1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?

Computer,computer software:Data upload, data compilation, webpage production Internet:Various data search including past works of Cyberfair,related book search, inquiry and topic related webpage Digital camera:Photograph taking as image record

2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.

Through the study and establishment of a website, we hope to promote a more profound understanding regarding food hygiene. Besides, by introducing manufacturers who participate with the traceability project, we inform parents who are in the fishing and farming industries that guaranteed quality of products and transparency of production procedures are future industrial trends, which is not only an obligation but also a business opportunity (selling point) that serves to increase industrial competitiveness. On the other hand, we can boost up school features and students' abilities, so local residents can see that even a school in a rural area can offer just as effective learning activities as schools in the cities. In addition, the finished website can present the best information in promoting local crafts and marketing local specialties, as well as increasing the school's visibility.

3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?

In comparison with other brief introductions, studies conducted for the Cyber Fair are in-depth researches. In order to enrich our local literature and history, we plan to connect with the Cyber Fair, introducing thematic fieldwork methods and cultural surveys, and further create websites to showcase our research findings. We accomplished a study on Xue Jia Wetlands two years ago, last year on folklore groups comprised of local elderly women, and this year, the introduction of local milkfish masters became the third piece of the puzzle of our community research project. As we persistently carry out our project over time, a complete community data base and website can be established within several years.

4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?

To operate a business ethically is not that simple, but it isn't difficult either. Food safety issues have recently drawn tremendous public attention, and it all boils down to the mentality of food producers. If they only focus on profits while neglecting quality, then the whole industry would be affected by a vicious competitiveness, which would be disadvantageous to producers and could also be extremely harmful to consumers' rights. Through interviews with the father and son of the Huang family, we realized that if we can see the big picture, considering the quality of one's products as one's business opportunity, one can also create a prosperous business.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

As for the inspection of agricultural products, the Council of Agriculture started a systematic traceability project for agricultural products in 2004. Basically, this system keeps track of agricultural products in various stages, from production, processing to sales, which ensures the consumers worry-free safe food. The milkfish products from the Huang family have joined the traceability project, and further qualified and registered as fishing and farm products with the European Union. Ready to work with neighboring farmers to promote the concepts of non-toxic farming, the Huang's operation is self-disciplined and consumer-friendly. We should espouse their high moral principles in today's utilitarian-oriented society.

Top

View our CyberFair Project (Project ID: 7905)

Close this Window