入鄉青年地方創生行動：以公館鄉紅棗產業為例

Abstract

近年來興起的返鄉歸農、移居地方風潮，不僅吸引青年投入各地農業與鄉村發展，入鄉青年也被視為是解決鄉村人口外流、重振地方農產業、推動地方創生的關鍵。本研究聚焦於苗栗縣公館鄉紅棗產業的發展過程，探討返鄉與移居青年如何在當地建立網絡關係、累積社會資本、獲取專業知識，藉以從事農業生產及開啟地方創生行動。本研究透過深度訪談、參與式觀察等方法，收集入鄉青年的遷移動機、產業活動與發展現況、組織參與及關係網絡等資料。研究結果顯示，儘管紅棗已發展為當地特色農產品，卻仍受限於耕作面積與產量難以擴增，入鄉青年僅依靠單一農產品並不易維持生計，因此擴展農場生產內容與經營項目、加入當地各類農業或社區發展組織就成為留鄉留農的必要策略。不論是以農業生產為主的青農聯誼會、以引進創新農業技術為主的友善耕作資材群組、或是強調休閒農業區及街區營造的組織行動，都是促成入鄉青年從一級農業生產延伸到二級加工及休閒產業的六級產業化發展的關鍵。返鄉青年的支持網絡立基於親屬關係，是獲得農業生產資源、知識與技能的主要來源。相對地，移居青年通常利用農民學院的課程與見習農場建置從農的基礎，但是缺少土地資源是進入鄉村初期最大的挑戰。為增進農場經營能力，返鄉青年必須向鄉村外部單位，如大學端開設之課程尋求專業知識，移居者也需要主動參與地方組織，如農會產銷班來獲得在地流通的資訊與資材。在發展組織上，返鄉者的優勢在內部青農的整合及長輩的協調能力，移居者具有都市多元資源與管道，如電商平台、綠色飲食餐廳，但仍需維繫合作農民之關係，具備串連鄉村內外網絡的能力。此外，參與較多團體與組織之個人其扮演的跨群體橋接角色，明顯有助於連結返鄉農二代與移居青年之間的協力合作關係，則是促成當地農業與特色產業發展的關鍵。

In response to declining rural population and sustaining agricultural development, urban-to-rural migrants have been regarded as key human resources in regional revitalization actions in rural Taiwan. Focusing on the jujube (紅棗) industry in Gongguan (公館鄉), this study aims to explore differentiated strategies adapted by young returnees and newcomers in promoting agricultural production and management, social networking actions, and community development projects. By analyzing qualitative data collected from semi-structured interviews and participant observations, the results show that young farmers are less likely to survive under monocropping of jujube. Instead, multifunctional farming is regarded as a successful pathway for both returnees and newcomers. Expanding the scope of farm management and participating in agricultural or community groups are important in maintaining their rural livelihoods. Whether it is the young farmers' associations, the environmentally friendly farm material group, or the collective actions of leisure agricultural and village-making groups, all of these are keys for youth to extend from agricultural production to processing and tourism. The jujube industry gradually moves towards the development of sixth industrialization. Returnees mainly rely on local networks such as family and relatives who help acquire agricultural knowledge. In contrast, to build the foundation of farming, newcomers learn in The Farmers' Academy. The lack of land resources is the biggest challenge at the beginning. To improve their capabilities in farm management, returnees seek professional knowledge from outside, such as courses in colleges. Newcomers need to actively participate in the agricultural production and marketing group to obtain information and materials circulating locally. In terms of the development of organizations, the advantages of returnees are the integration of young farmers and the coordination ability of elders. Newcomers have multiple urban resources, such as e-commerce platforms and sustainable food restaurants, but they still have to maintain their relationship with local farmers. Their major ability is to connect networks inside and outside the rural. In addition, actors involved in different organizations facilitate the cooperation of returnees and newcomers, thus playing an important role in local and agricultural development.