In 2010, two girls Becky Au and Cho Kai-kai—both of the Post-80s generation—felt that the time for more action had come. With the help of volunteers, they set up Mapopo Community Farm. “We want to tell the public that there can be another way to develop the land, while we continue to oppose government planning. We don’t want to halt development, but we hope that it can be carried out in a better direction,” says Cho. Thanks to their efforts, four farming households have now switched from traditional farming to organic agriculture. They dutifully collect food waste from the neighboring restaurants and compost it, turning it into nutrients for crops. A range of activities, including eco-tours and farming classes, have been organized to generate income.
But Mapopo is much more than an organic farm. “On the surface, we are setting up a farm, but actually, this is a grassroots organization,” Cho says. Mapopo Community Farm is a rallying point for the villagers of Ma Shi Po. It spreads information related to development; it also organizes villagers to join consultation sessions and attend protests.
On the face of it, it seems unlikely that the village can escape the claws of development, but Mapopo Community Farm will certainly continue to fight. “It will be a long battle,” Cho says.
Source from : https://hk-magazine.com/article/9922/mapopo-community-farm