Pawan: The Doraemon of the Tribe
Pawan, whose tribal name is often how we call him, is known as the “Doraemon of the Tribe.” He’s always there to assist with anything, big or small. Not only is he skilled in animal husbandry, but he’s also proficient in repairing electrical systems, water supplies, and agricultural machinery. Whenever the tribe faces challenges, Pawan is the first person everyone thinks of.
Transition and Entrepreneurship
In 2015, Pawan returned to his hometown after retiring from the military and took over his family’s pig farming business. However, due to unsuccessful attempts to secure a pig farming license, he decided to pivot toward friendly farming practices.
Under the guidance of the “Hongye Welfare Egg Cooperative” in Hongye Village, Wanrong Township, Pawan began learning about sustainable chicken farming. With his background in animal husbandry, he found the transition to poultry farming relatively easy. Moreover, friendly farming not only helps protect the environment but also ties into the Truku tribe’s cultural heritage of raising chickens. After much consideration, Pawan officially launched the “Ciyakang Eggs” business in 2024.
Currently, Ciyakang eggs can be purchased not only at the nearby Linrong Farmers’ Association but also at the Farmers’ Market in Hualien City and Xinxiu Farmers’ Association. Pawan shares that the egg production is stable, with up to 250 eggs collected daily during peak seasons. Through a mobile app, Pawan keeps track of the sales performance at various farmers’ markets in real-time.
If sales are strong, Pawan and his wife personally deliver eggs to restock, ensuring convenience and efficiency. However, running the egg business is no easy task. Pawan has poured immense effort and dedication into it, and it is through this hard work that the business has gradually started to thrive.
The Practice of Friendly Farming
Friendly farming not only enhances animal welfare but is also an effective management approach. Currently, poultry farming methods can be categorized into three types: caged, barn-rearing, and free-range. The latter two are considered more environmentally and animal-friendly.
Pawan transformed his previous pig farming space into a chicken coop and adopted the barn-rearing method. He explained that disease is the biggest concern when raising chickens, as outbreaks could significantly impact egg production.
“Have you noticed that more and more egrets have been flying into the village in recent years?” Pawan asked me.
“Yes, it seems like there are more now!” I replied.
Pawan explained, “Many farmlands in Fenglin have been converted into solar farms, leaving these birds without habitats, so they’ve started coming to our area.”
To mitigate the risks associated with environmental changes, Pawan chose the flat-rearing method during the early stages of his business. This method resembles the traditional free-range approach from childhood, where chickens, though kept within a confined area, still have enough space to move around and dig in the soil.
To produce healthy eggs, the chickens themselves must grow up healthy. In addition to restricting wild birds from entering the space and potentially spreading diseases, the bedding material plays a crucial role. Pawan uses thick layers of rice husk bedding mixed with EM (Effective Microorganism) bacteria. The EM bacteria accelerate the decomposition of waste and help purify the air.
He scooped up a handful of rice husk bedding and held it up to my nose. Sure enough, there was no unpleasant odor.
Chickens don’t have sweat glands and can only regulate their temperature by panting, making them extremely sensitive to heat. Chickens require 16 hours of daylight and thrive in temperatures between 25-30°C. Temperatures outside this range cause them discomfort. To maintain an optimal environment, Pawan equipped his chicken coop with ample lighting, fans for ventilation, and even a sprinkler system on the roof. This ensures that the chickens producing Ciyakang eggs can grow healthily and happily.
Feeding and Management
In addition to environmental control, feeding is also a crucial skill. Just like children have set mealtimes, so do chickens. Every morning, Pawan feeds the chickens at a fixed time, while also checking the water supply to ensure it is sufficient and regularly replaced to maintain cleanliness.
The feed consists mainly of organic dry feed, supplemented regularly with lactic acid bacteria. Since no chemical medications are used, feeding on schedule and adding lactic acid bacteria helps reduce coccidiosis and strengthen the chickens’ gut health to better break down waste. This ensures that the chicken manure remains odorless.
Diverse Chicken Breed Selection
Unlike most poultry farms that focus on raising a single breed, Pawan raises three different chicken breeds.
Firstly, each breed has different growth rates and egg-laying frequencies. To ensure a stable egg supply, he chooses to raise a variety of breeds. Secondly, this allows him to develop multiple egg brands for different market segments. After all, eggs come in many varieties, and offering diverse options enhances their value. Lastly, in addition to regular laying hens, Pawan is committed to raising the tribe’s native chickens, preserving their unique cultural and culinary significance.
Pawan carefully explained the chicken breeds he raises. The most common breed in his farm is the French variety “Isa Brown”, which starts laying eggs at around 16 weeks. These hens produce one egg per day, with reddish-brown shells, and have a laying period of about 18 months. Next are the “Indonesian Chicken” and “Native Chickens”, which take about six months to mature and lay eggs approximately every two days. Indonesian chicken eggs have blue shells, while native chicken eggs are slightly pinkish and are called pink-shelled eggs. Both breeds have a laying period of over three years.
In Pawan’s chicken coop, there are eggs with red, blue, and pink shells, which are further categorized into first-laid eggs and double-yolk eggs.
Pawan mentioned that first-laid eggs are favored by Japanese restaurants because their yolks are deeper in color, the whites are clearer, and they have lower cholesterol levels. Double-yolk eggs, on the other hand, are popular with pregnant women or women in postpartum recovery. Due to the higher rearing costs and lower yields, blue-shelled eggs and native chicken eggs are naturally priced higher. To maintain a balanced economy in the chicken coop, Pawan chose to raise a mix of chicken breeds.
Establishing Production and Sales Channels
Pawan shared that he was fortunate to have the guidance of Manager Ya-Ping from the “Hongye Welfare Egg Cooperative.” Through the cooperative, he attended training sessions to enhance his farming skills. It was through their introduction that he learned about the opportunity to sell eggs via farmers’ associations. He also applied for traceability certification and obtained the required safety inspection reports.
The cooperative and Pawan work together as partners, sharing information and resources. Recently, they even went to the “Hope Plaza” in Taipei to sell eggs, where 200 boxes sold out in just one day.
Pawan expressed his strong desire to promote the agricultural products of Wanrong Township, emphasizing that farmers work incredibly hard. In the future, if given the opportunity, he hopes to establish a cooperative organization in the Ciyakang tribe, similar to the model in Hongye. This would allow everyone in the community to work together and share in the profits.
In addition, small-scale chicken coops face significant challenges competing with large poultry farms. Building stronger connections between local communities and agricultural products, as well as establishing brand recognition, requires persistent effort—especially the collaboration of younger generations. Pawan’s dream is to make Ciyakang eggs a symbol of quality and friendly farming, while also using these eggs to convey the culture and hard work of the tribe to every consumer.
Written by: Apyang Imiq
Interview Date: June 18, 2024
