The government is lazy and betel nuts have been working together for 30 years.

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Thousands of bees twitched to death on the ground as a result of pesticide poisoning and betel nut pollen was found in the hive. The "upstream and downstream" reporters followed the line and unexpectedly broke into the vast betel nut kingdom.

Shuttling through the dense forest, we are surprised to find that the government's "three noes" policy on betel nut: no guidance, no encouragement, no prohibition, which makes the whole betel nut industry in a state of anarchy for years, like a black net everywhere. Luo weaves an eye-popping historical community, affecting the ecological environment of the whole island and the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people. He opened the black net in one breath and was surprised to see more than a dozen pesticides and four heavy metal residues, with explosive spots everywhere, but unexpected mineral deposits were also dug up. There are 40,000 hectares of betel nut garden on Taiwan island with us, which is equivalent to 1.5 Taipei City. Whether you eat betel nut or not, you must pay attention to it.

Explosion point 1: the second largest crop in Taiwan, no one cares about spraying

Betel nut is the second largest crop in Taiwan after rice, and it is the first "fruit". The government knows full well that farmers have a demand for medicine, but it does not recommend any medicine at all, which is tantamount to "betel nut cannot be sprayed", and there is no standard and no guidance. Farmers have no choice but to "play freely" and spray whatever the pesticide line opens. The "upstream and downstream" went to the central and southern producing areas to sample betel nuts, wild leaves and dead bees for testing, and found that pesticide residues were astonishing, a long list of drugs named like pesticide cocktails, and the emergence of Fenpril banned drugs, and a sample of wild leaves had as many as 19 kinds of pesticides, and the evidence of illegal exceeding the standard was like a mountain.

The drug use of 40,000 hectares of farmland is completely unregulated, not only the bees suffer innocently, but also cause great ecological catastrophe, and farmers sprayed all over the sky are also harmed by it. At the end, there is no spot check mechanism, and millions of people who eat betel nut are unprepared to be exposed to pesticide risks. Betel nut is especially addictive, and there are many heavy chewers.

Mineral deposit one: production and marketing are in good order, which can be called a model student of crops.

Betel nut has been in opposition for a long time, but the production and marketing system is perfect. No matter whether it is high or low, farmers can make money, with an annual output value as high as 11.4 billion. This is in sharp contrast to the repeated imbalance between supply and demand of other crops. How on earth does betel nut do it? "upstream and downstream" go to the mountain to explore the betel nut price decision-making center: "Jingzi fraternity".

The Chiayi Zhongpu Ching Tsai Fellowship Association is the earliest plate merchant organization established in China, and it has the most prestige in the betel nut industry, and many betel nut orchards in Nantou, the largest producing county, were reclaimed and operated by the people of Chiayi that year, so Nantou and Chiayi jointly determine the price. The Zhongpu Ching Tsai Fellowship can be said to be "shouting water to freeze."

During the in-depth meeting, the reporter personally brokered the front-line traders of Betelang, talked freely about the method of balancing supply and demand, and brought it back to the industry's forefront "green gold" manufacturing site.

Mineral deposit 2: betel nut turns into a non-dream, as if there is light

Is it possible for a prodigal son whose parents don't hurt? The government has neglected for many years that even if it promotes the conversion of abandoned gardens, it is weak and ineffective, but the decline of the betel nut industry is bound to face transformation. After years of exploration, the slopes and plains have each found a feasible way. The rich and diverse tastes of bitter tea, coffee, lemon and cocoa gradually blossom and bear fruit, replacing the spicy bitterness of betel nut.

Bearing the charge of causing cancer and destroying mountains and forests, betel nut really deserves to die? In fact, experts have different opinions. However, betel nut has been infamous for more than 20 years. Like an indelible scarlet stain, betel nut has been banished from the frontier by civilized society.

The fruit of this evil, which has been neglected and spurned, is the awakening of the working class, the lucky general of the night, the sweaty workers, the fishermen at sea, and the most reliable companion. We also listened to the confession of the champagne chewers, knowing full well that they had to eat beverage to quench their thirst. Few people ask seriously, and the government pretends to be blind.

The "upstream and downstream" visited the relevant units of the Council of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Health. The Council of Agriculture frankly admitted that betel nut was not legally used and put the blame on the Food and Drug Administration without setting standards, while the Food and Drug Administration excluded betel nut from "food." repeatedly jump needle: "if the government to control, to conduct testing, the public will think that betel nut is food and can be eaten." However, the Department of Health said helplessly: it is indeed a loophole that betel nuts are not included in the Food Safety and Hygiene Management Law.

Save labor and care, good profits, pesticides are not tested, processing and access do not have to worry about, for the aging rural areas, is there a more ideal crop than betel nut? However, the number of people suffering from oral cancer is growing year after year, and nine times out of ten they are chewing betel nut. How many middle-aged people are disabled or even killed as a result?. How can the harm be ignored?.

"upstream and downstream" reporters went all over the major betel nut producing areas in Nantou, Chiayi, and Pingtung, visited all sides, combed a large amount of data, and invited the behind-the-scenes descendants of "A Qiu Betelnut" to fade out of the rivers and lakes for many years to reshape the vague and mysterious appearance of the betel nut industry for you and clarify the love and hatred between betel nut and the people on the island.

Betel nut small file:

Betel nut is the second largest crop in Taiwan, with an area of nearly 43,000 hectares, equivalent to 1.5 Taipei City, mainly distributed in Nantou, Chiayi and Pingtung. The annual output of betel nut exceeds 100000 metric tons, and the annual output value is as high as NT $11.4 billion. About 60,000 to 70,000 people live in this industry, and there are about one million betel chewers in the country.

For a complete topic, please see: [exclusive investigation] unveils the biggest pesticide loophole in Taiwan │ betel nut co-operation for 30 years

Feature production team

Interview writing: Zheng Jieyi, Cai Jiashan, Lin Xijun, Liu Yixin

Photography: Xiao Heqin, Fang Shifan, Cai Jiashan, Lin Yijun, Liu Yixin, Zheng Jieyi

Image shooting: Liu Qileng, Xiao Heqin, Fang Shifan, Cai Jiashan

Feature editors: Cai Jiashan, Zheng Jieyi

Art Editor: Xiao Minghong

Film narrator: Lu Peiling

This project is sponsored by the Foundation for Environmental Education, but does not interfere with the interview and writing to ensure the independence of the news.