A briefing on the Second Phase of  the  S3 Zhongchi   Irrigation System Improvement Plan for the Baguashan Area, 
held by the Changhua Management Office to expand irrigation services and more effectively utilize water resources

The office held “A Briefing on the Second Phase of the S3 Zhongchi Irrigation System Improvement Plan for the Baguashan Area” at Bagushan Irrigation Area P17 on November 1, 2022, to elaborate on the work of the improvement project to the residents of the Mingjian Village, Nantou County. Guests who attended the event included the Deputy Director of the Changhua Management Office, Chen Executive Yuan, Lin, Guohua, Director of the Irrigation Agency, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Lin, Guohua, Director of the Changhua Management Office, Chen, WenChi, and former Executive Director of the Central Taiwnan Joint Service, Executive Yuan, Tsai, Peihui, and other distinguished council members and public representatives.

Lin pointed out the problems in the Chishui area, such as insufficient water supply, water leakage in pools and pipelines, and lack of alternative water sources. Above all, the area is designated as a waste landfill which will jeopardize the basic safety of the P17 pool. Therefore, Tsai, Peihui, who was then the Director of Central Taiwan Joint Service, Executive Yuan, in January 2021 requested the Irrigation Agency, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, to conduct an on-site inspection in an attempt to strive for an opportunity to enhance the irrigation water for the Chishui Village and Zhuwei Village. The first phase of the improvement plan costs 28 million NTD comprising the P14 water well and connecting pipeline project and the P17 water well and connecting pipeline project both completed in July 2022.

Former Executive Director Tsai specified that over 40% of farmland in Mingjian Township is for the planting of tea trees, pineapples, ginger and dragon fruits which are the main cash crops, but there has been no sufficient water available for irrigation for years, causing the farmer extra economic burden to have to purchase irrigation water elsewhere. Because the existing irrigation facilities are outdated and severely damaged, there are leakages from the surface pipeline is seen everywhere, which is a waste of water sources, especially in areas where water is scarce. On top of it, the irrigation water in this area comes from the same water source causing the crops to suffer from water shortage when is in the interval period between harvests and next seeding season, there is no water supply. The unstable water supply and lack of systematic management with no backup system have caused great difficulties for the farmers in Mingjian Township, who mainly rely on agriculture for a living. The briefing also aimed to encourage the farmer to apply for irrigation pipeline installation to cope with the shortage of rainfall due to extreme weather and increase the irrigation pipeline penetration rate and boost the development of irrigation technology to reduce the impact of water shortage.  

Councilor Mr. Chen, Hanli stated that the funds used in the second phase to improve leakage in P14, P16 and P18 pools and water pipelines from P14 to P16 pools is 150 million NTD. To extend the performance effectiveness, DIP, which is the same standard for the current tap water pipeline, was utilized to ensure better the quality of crops irrigated by the water.

Director Chen elaborated that the water will be available 24 hours all year round after the improvement of the water distribution of the P17 pool. There will be no need to queue up or fight for water in the future; there will be neither worrying about the shortage of water supply nor bursting of pipelines occurs after the pipelines’ toughness is strengthened and the water pressure is stable. The office will continue to implement the second phase of the improvement plan to resolve related issues aiming to maintain no leakage of pools and pipelines and a stable water supply in order to extend the scope of irrigation in the Chishui area and make more effective use of water sources. Improvement of the existing pipelines, construction of the P17 pool, and pool repairment of this phase will be contracted out consecutively, hoping to provide a stable irrigation water supply, enhance water supply facilities, and expand irrigation services to accomplish the goal of benefiting more farmers.

To follow-up, the Department will continue to execute the policies of the Irrigation Agency, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, continue to promote smart irrigation technology, solve the irrigation dilemma by providing the farmers with facility-based and smart irrigation methods, and integrate with the local culture, so as to enhance the agriculture industry to serve as a strong backup for the tourism industry, which can drive the development of related industries, and create a happy home for farmers.