以嘉义中埔乡为例.pdfVIP

65 地理研究 第52期 民國99年5 月 Journal of Geographical Research No.52, May 2010 台灣沿山地區檳榔業的生台灣沿山地區檳榔業的 生產空間與產空間與社會社會：： 台灣沿山地區檳榔業的台灣沿山地區檳榔業的 生生產空間與產空間與社會社會 ：： 以嘉義以嘉義縣縣中埔中埔鄉為鄉為例例 以以嘉義嘉義縣縣中埔中埔鄉為鄉為例例 The Production Space and Society of Betel Nuts along Hillside Taiwan : A Case Study of Chongpu Township, Chiayi 凃函君a 蘇淑娟 b Han-Chun Tu Shew-Jiuan Blanka Su Abstract Considered as one of the unique features of Taiwan, betel nut consumption is popular for decades. Betel nut production and retailing support many people’s livelihood. The harvesting period of and quality of betel nuts is different among various parts of Taiwan. Due to such timing difference, distinctive social relations exit among the supply and demand of betel nuts. The production of betel nuts generates vertical and horizontal links among different production areas. The present study chooses Chongpu, which was the first to establish a price-regulating organization of betel nuts in Taiwan, as a case study. It illustrates that the production space of betel nut industry is based on rhythm of biological nature and social relation of economical trade. Betel nut industry in Chongpu Township has a long history. Its planted area has been the biggest among all betel nut townships over the years. Chongpu has developed a specific type of production system and interflow network in the early stage of large-scale betel nut consumption. Chongpu is one of the few townships which witnessed the rise and fall of betel nut industry in Taiwan. Also important is the sort of mutually beneficial relations among betel nut farmers, traders, financial sectors and transporters. To v