Changhua Management Office Conducts Neisan Irrigation Expansion Service (Canal No. 1 and 2) Construction Commencement Ceremony        

Looking forward to increase agricultural output value and attract young farmers to return

Inspection Section Wei-Shi Lee

      In the morning of February 25^th, the Changhua Management Office conducted the “Neisan Irrigation Expansion Service (Canal No. 1 & 2)” construction commencement ceremony at the Neisan Drainage Embankment Road. Honored guests such as Vice president Guo-Hua Lin of Irrigation Agency, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Office Chief Shu-Hua Liou of Changhua Management Office, Legislator Su-Yueh Chen, Tianzhong Town Mayor Li-Na Hong and Members of Parliament had attended to pray for smooth and successful construction together.   

      Vice president Lin expressed that in concert with the 2020 restructure of the Farmland Water Conservancy Association and the Irrigation Expansion Service policy, the Changhua Management Office plans to perfect the irrigation system through planning and constructing canal routes of the “Neisan Drainage Branch Irrigation Area”. The agricultural zone with an area of 562 hectares, through the expansion service plan, will bring very sizable economical benefits in the future.

      Legislator Chen indicates her gratefulness of the care shown by the Irrigation Agency and Changhua Management Office. After the completion of the Neisan Drainage Branch Irrigation Area, farmers can directly utilize surface runoff without having to draw underground water, reducing additional expenditures. The Irrigation Agency’s continuous push of irrigation expansion service policy realizes the government’s goal of valuing the land and taking care of farmers, resulting in local economic development and attracting young farmers to return.

      Office Chief Liou indicates that Neisan drainage was original an outlet route of Babao Canal 2, later remediated by the Chunghua County Government to use as drainage for the county governed area. The area is situated at the water source thus possesses stable water supply, therefore in 1965 had separated from the regulated area of Changhua Farmland Water Conservancy Association to become a locally managed agricultural zone. Within the zone, the rice industry occupies about half of the area, and is also abound with guava, a local specialty fruit. Tomato, papaya, and dragon fruit also constitute a large amount of production. Its proximity to Tianwei Garden Highway allows the area to be adorned with seedlings and garden crops. In summary, the area grows diverse crops and is bountiful in agricultural produces. This improvement of Canal No. 1 and 2 has a total fund of 60 million NTD, with construction starting on March 1^st 2022, expected to completion by February 2023. Subsequent Canal No. 3 through 7 improvement construction will be conducted by phase over the years, successively providing stable irrigation water supply, enhancing public water supply equipment, and expanding irrigation service to achieve the goal of benefiting more farmers.

      After the re-structure of the Farmland Water Conservancy Association, to enhance its functions, the Irrigation Agency proactively checks its jurisdiction to find potential zones to expand its services to farmers in the future. The construction of Neisan Drainage Irrigation Canal No. 1 and 2 will solve the difficulty of no water supply in the mid-downstream of the canal. The completion of all zones in the future will significantly increase irrigation efficiency and farmer income. Through the Tianzhong Workstation of the Agency to take over the service, it will become the biggest highlight of the Irrigation Expansion Service of the Changhua Management Office.