Radio Taiwan Internatinal
Date: .23 August, 2019
By: John Van Trieste

Agricultural researchers in Taiwan hope to make planting taro easier for farmers.[/caption] In Taiwanese cuisine, taro is a key ingredient. But growing taro involves back-breaking work. Taiwanese researchers have now come up with an invention they hope will ease taro farmers’ workload.

Taro is a beloved part of the Taiwanese diet. The purple root vegetable is everywhere here, used not only in savory dishes but also as a flavoring for desserts. Growing taro is difficult, though. The planting process alone is labor intensive and involves many steps.

Now, though, agricultural researchers in Taichung are trying to at least make this first step a bit easier. They have developed a tractor-like taro planter that mechanizes the planting process. It’s perhaps no surprise this invention comes from Taichung- the city’s Dajia District is especially well-known for its taro.    [FULL  STORY]