Soldiers in red from land and sea help harvest onions in the field.

(Photo by reporter Cai Zongxian)

[Reporter Cai Zongxian/Pingtung Report] Hengchun Peninsula’s specialty onion has entered the harvest season. Although the farmer’s association has guided mechanized harvesting in recent years, the national army still supports 200 troops every day to help harvest onions and emerald green onions. The field is covered with the First Battalion of the 99th Brigade of the Marine Corps wearing red clothes. The unique rural scene in the area has attracted many tourists to stop and take pictures, saying "the most beautiful scenery in spring!"

The national army worked on onion income support in the Hengchun Peninsula. During its heyday, 600 people were sent every day to the three main production areas of Fangshan, Checheng, and Hengchun, with a total area of ​​about 400 hectares. It lasted from March 15 to April 30. The time is about 50 days. In recent years, after the number of recruiting troops has been reduced to 200, in line with the onion industry's transition to mechanization, there has been no adjustment of the recruiting manpower.

Please read on...

This unique local good-neighborly system, every year, there are always sour people or unscrupulous media ridiculed by "putting it all to the soldiers" and "squeezing the soldiers". There are Gu workers, who also take good care of the recruiting officers and soldiers. Brother A Bing is younger than his children, and most of them can only help with manual work such as carrying, picking up, and sorting without experience. "You can ask the helper Brother Bing! "

The Hengchun Town Farmers Association stated that onions are a labor-intensive industry. At present, planting, harvesting, and packaging have all moved towards mechanization. However, most of the local onion fields are planted in small areas, which is not conducive to mechanical harvesting. Technically, due to the aging of the local population, military assistance is still needed in the short term to assist mechanization transformation.

Yang Junzhi, a senior onion farmer in Hengchun, said that the weather is stable this year and there is no onion disease and pests caused by heavy rain. The farmers are all smiling to celebrate the harvest. The current purchase price of early spring onions in the production area is about 420 yuan, and they can eat sweet, delicious and cheap Hengchun onions. .

Soldiers in red from land and sea help harvest onions in the field.

(Photo by reporter Cai Zongxian)