Returning Home | Sustainable Indigenous Livelihood

In the quiet, mist-covered mountains of Nantou, Taiwan, a soft clucking fills the air as the dawn breaks. It’s the sound of hope for Umav, a woman from the Bunun tribe, who has spent years watching her husband shoulder the weight of their family's financial burden. But today, as she wakes her daughter to feed the young chicks in their newly established farm, there is a renewed sense of purpose in her steps.

For Umav, the path to this moment has been anything but easy. With several years of poultry farming experience behind her, she had once attempted to nurture her flock using natural farming methods. Yet, without the proper knowledge and support, her efforts ended in frustration and abandoned dreams. But when The Mustard Seed Mission (MSM) reached out to her community, everything began to change.

"I wanted to help my husband, to share the burden," Umav says, her voice filled with quiet determination. "But I didn’t know how—until I met the people from The Mustard Seed Mission."

MSM’s arrival brought more than just advice—it brought a lifeline. Through the creation of the "Trinity Agrifood Dream Base," a project nestled within the mountains, Umav found not only the skills she needed but also a vision for a better future. Working with MSM’s team, she learned how to standardize her farming practices, create high-quality, natural feed from local resources, and above all, how to produce eggs that are not just free from toxins, but rich in the health of the land.

"We wanted to use what our ancestors gave us—our land, our environment—and create something that would last," says MayaMala Maliy Dali, the Indigenous Industry Development Consultant who guided Umav through this transformation. "We’re not just raising chickens; we’re restoring a way of life."

As the first chicks hatched at the "Trinity Agrifood Dream Base," so too did a new chapter for Umav’s family and community. The eggs, now beginning to reach markets, are more than just a product—they are a testament to what can be achieved when tradition meets innovation, when a community comes together to support one of its own.

This project, rooted in the principles of "Cultivate, Grow, Share, and Inherit," is more than just an agricultural venture. It is a beacon of hope for the Indigenous youth of the area, drawing them back to their roots, to the land their ancestors cherished. Umav’s success story is not just about financial stability—it’s about cultural revival, about breathing life back into traditions that were at risk of being forgotten.

The Mustard Seed Mission, through the "Trinity Agrifood Dream Base," is building more than just farms; they are building dreams. The model they have developed with Umav is set to be replicated across other Indigenous communities in Taiwan, creating sustainable livelihoods and preserving the natural beauty of these ancestral lands.

For Umav, every morning is now filled with the promise of a brighter future—not just for her family, but for her entire community. "We’ve returned to natural farming because it’s more than a method—it’s our way of life," she says, smiling as her daughter runs ahead to the chicken coop, eager to begin the day’s work.

And so, in this small mountain village, a new story is being written—one of resilience, hope, and the unyielding strength of a woman who dared to dream of something better.