Lai Chi WOW! Ep4: Let’s Farm Together Lai Chi WOW Lai Chi WOW! Ep4: Let’s Farm Together Lai Chi WOW Lai Chi WOW! Ep4: Let’s Farm Together Lai Chi WOW
Lai Chi WOW! Ep4: Let’s Farm Together Lai Chi WOW
Hakka Farming Village - Lai Chi Wo
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Located in Northeastern New Territories, Lai Chi Wo used to be an agricultural village. Due to urbanization in the sixties and seventies, villagers started moving into the city, leaving the village dwindling. With the support of various groups, Lai Chi Wo started its revitalization process in 2013. In the last few years, deserted farmland has been reconverted.
A Rich Variety of Crops and Secondary Products
At the moment, there are the following crops in Lai Chi Wo: rice, turmeric, ginger, winter melon, milk bananas, green bananas, lemon, toon, mulberry leaves, curry leaves, hibiscus, coffee beans, a few edible flowers, and other seasonal crops. Besides edible crops, biodiversity has made various secondary products possible, such as soap, bath salt, and skincare products. The local farmers market has been reinvigorated.
In addition to reinstating farming activities, the reconversion project team advocates for a balanced ecosystem and environmentally friendly farming methods. The group has vowed to abstain from chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Instead, they strive to achieve symbiosis and coexistence by diversifying their crops, thereby exploring a harmonious man-land relationship.
There are rich variety of Crops in Lai Chi Wo, including rice.
Lemon tree in Lai Chi Wo
Ecosystem Improved by Reconversion
Reconversion has improved the ecosystem and increased the variety of species. Rare species have been seen to return to Lai Chi Wo. In our Lai Chi WOW! Children Play Theatre, the “Four Mascots”: Dragonfly (Orange-tailed Midget), Butterfly (Plain Hedge Blue), Frog (Chinese Bullfrog), and Rice Fish (Oryzias Curvinotus) are the critical conservation targets under the “Management Agreement Scheme at Lai Chi Wo Enclave”. Together, they balance the river ecosystem by consuming algae and keeping the water clean. In the early years, Gambusia affinis was introduced and threatened indigenous rice fish. In 2017, rice fish caught in So Lo Pun was bred and released back into Lai Chi Wo. Currently, there are over 2000 rice fish in the village!
Volunteers growing rice in Lai Chi Wo.
We can often see dragonflies around the fields.
Reconversion turns farmland into rich soil once again and provides a good breeding ground for different species. It also reinvigorates local agriculture and attracts people to Lai Chi Wo to experience its beauty.
