3rd Asian Regional Conference

THE ENHANCEMENT OF IRRIGATION WATER RESOURCES UTILIZATION BY

THE ADJUSTMENT OF CULTIVATION ON FARM-LANDS IN TAO-YUAN
AREA, TAIWAN

Chang-Chi Cheng1 and Tsung-Chi Lee2

Summary

Since the accession to the WTO, the cultivation land area of rice in Taiwan has been decreasing
as the rice demand is decreased. It is studied and suggested in this article that land fallow
and crop-change could be properly practiced on irrigation systems during water-shortage
periods, namely the first crop, and the agricultural water should be able to be effectively saved
such that non-agricultural demands could be supported without impacting food policies, and
the pressure of water-resources development could be reduced.

I. Foreword

Since the accession to the WTO, the cultivation land area of rice in Taiwan has been decreasing
as the rice demand is decreased. The objective of the article is to review the current agricultural
water shift cases, to plan the proper fallow or crop-change locations as well as areas needed,
further to estimate the probable releasable agricultural water as well as access ways, and to
prepare an encouragement regulation on land fallow or crop-change, so as to provide
reference for the long-term and mid-term water resources management.

The focus of the study area in this article is conducted in Tao-Yuan area (Table 1), which is
located in the northern part of Taiwan. The reservoirs, supply-demand conditions of various
sectors would first be reviewed, and the strategies of temporary shift of agricultural water
under the conditions of maintaining the re-planting capability of farmland, as well as the
moving plans of water resources would be assessed.

1
Associate Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ching-Yun University, #229
Chien-Hsin Road, Jhong-Li, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. Tel.: 886-3-4581196 ext. 6100, fax.: 886-3-4683298,
e-mail: faber@cyu.edu.tw
2
Chairman, Tao-Yuan Irrigation Association

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Table 1: Rice Cultivation Area in Tao-Yuan Irrigation Association

Source: Tao-Yuan Irrigation Association

II. Preparation of fallow or crop-change plans

If the willingness of cooperation consent from the farmers is acquired, it is proposed that in
accordance with the promotion of fallow as well as crop-change systems, the planned water-
supply in the reservoir areas, especially the Tao-Yuan area in this article, could be theoretically
reduced by the unit of check-gate operation. The purpose of saving water through fallow as
well as crop-change could be reached by conveying it along the irrigation systems to the
designated location or facility.

In order to effectively carry out the ideas of the study objectives, the following basic principles
are first proposed:

1. Current planting systems should be maintained to avoid complexion,

2. Water-right-change should not be involved in order to minimize doubt as well as aguments,
and
3. The form of “group fallow” should be promoted in order to effectively save water.

Hence under principle 1, the double-crop fields are suggested in order to maintain current
planting system. Under principle 2, rotational fallow by groups are suggested in order not
to involve the doubt of water-right-change. Under principle 3, the lateral ditches as basic units
are suggested in order to promote through groups.

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In addition, since water-resources agencies already have set related moving or transferring
response procedures as well as measures for emergency droughts, the ideas in this article
should be adapted to constant supportive water-supply in order to meet the policy of fallow
as well as crop-change. Under this principle, water-supply from reservoirs is suggested.

In the mean time, associate measures or principles should also be promoted, such as
compensation to farmers, respect to management input of irrigation associations, etc. Also,
current fallow as well as crop-change is promoted targeting on second crop in consideration
of crop yield and quality. However, from the water-resources point of view, first crop is
suggested due to wet seasons.

III. Analysis of water-saving potential by fallow and crop-change in Tao-Yuan area

Year 2004 of Tao-Yuan is chosen as case study when the allocated fallow rea in accordance
with the WTO regulation of rice import was 11,946 hectares in the first crop and 15,943
hectares in the second crop. Assume that all the fallow area in Tao-Yuan County was completely
applied in the irrigation district of Tao-Yuan Irrigation Association, and further the work
stations of associate laterals were set as basic units by taking the on-site operation applicability
into consideration, the potential water-saving amount can be obtained by accumulating the
amounts of distributed water of the corresponding lateral work stations under the priority of
lower water distribution weights, which are the water requirements per unit area, unless minor
necessary adjustments are needed.

Following the principle, the manage areas of work stations are accumulated in the order from
Ta-Lun (laterals #6, 7, and 8-1), Hsin-Po (lateral #9), Tao-Yuan (lateral #1), Hsin-Wu (laterals
#12, Keh-Ker-Gang Ditch, and 12-1), Ta-Yuan (laterals #3, 4, and 5), until Kuan-Yin (laterals
#10 and 11) work station, in which the accumulated area of 11,959 hectares has reached
the first crop fallow requirement of 11,946 hectares. Hence, the corresponding accumulated
distribution water of 123.648*106 m3 is the potential amount of water saved for the first crop
(Table 2).

Continuing the procedure, the Ta-Chu (lateral #2) and Tsao-Ta (lateral #8) work stations are
followed when the accumulated area of 16,906 hectares is reached beyond the 15,943
hectare second crop fallow area, the corresponding 179.989*106 m3 is the potential amount
of water saved for the second crop.

In other words, assume that the guided fallow area of both first and second crops of year
2004 in Tao-Yuan area is completely applied in Tao-Yuan Irrigation Association irrigation
district, and the calculation is based on average distributed amount of water of the 2005
irrigation plan of Tao-Yuan Irrigation Association, a total of approximately 300*106 tons of
water potential for the whole year could be expected.

IV. Preparation of fallow or crop-change measures

Furthermore, according to the estimation of water shortage of domestic water supply systems
in Taiwan area for the year 2011 as provided by the Water Resources Agency, the medium

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growth demand in Tao-Yuan area is 1.29*106 tons per day while the supply side is 1.10*106
tons/day, hence,, a deficit of 0.19*106 tons/day should be supported form other sources
before water-shortage crisis occurs.

Suppose that 0.20*106 tons/day is needed for 180 days in a crop period, then 36*106 tons
of water is required for each crop. Take the associated planned distribution water amounts
for each crop, as well as the administrative coordination in execution practice into consideration,
then, various combinations which meet the 36*106 tons requirement could be determined by
further considering the manage areas of work stations as basic fallow unit, one crop per
fallow term, and rotational fallow to assist agricultural water. Furthermore, for the applicability
of practical execution to minimize the operation disputes as well as to raise the coordination
efficiency, it is suggested that three groups of up-stream, mid-stream, and down-stream are
classified. The upstream group includes Tao-Yuan, Ta-Chu, Ta-Yuan, and Ta-Lun work stations,
while the mid-stream includes Tsao-Ta, Hsin-Po, and Kuan-Yin work stations, and the down-
stream group includes Hsin-Wu and Hu-Kou work stations (Table 3). For each group, the
associated amount of saved-water from conducting fallow could meet the requirement, and
hence could provide reference for rotation fallow.

V. Compensation for fallow and crop-change

In order to find the willingness as well as intentions of the farmers regarding the amount of
compensation, a questionnaire by interview targeted on 300 rice farmer samples under 95%
confidence interval and with below 5% sampling error was conducted. The questionnaire
comprises four parts.

(1) Farmers’ agricultural production characteristics, including crop area, types, soils, and
irrigation water sources, followed by the survey of farmers’ response measures upon water
shortage. This information is needed for the verification and estimation of farmers’ cost
and profit concerns.
(2) The impact of variations of irrigation water on crop growth. Various hypothetical scenarios
of various rice-paddy growth periods, as well as response measures upon water-shortages
are designed in order for the verification and estimation on the category of farmers’
intrinsic values. These hypothetical scenarios are:
Hypothetical scenario 1: fallow conducted before rice seedlings,
Hypothetical scenario 2: group fallow conducted before rice seedlings,
Hypothetical scenario 3: incentive for group fallow,
Hypothetical scenario 4: crop-change conducted before rice seedlings,
Hypothetical scenario 5: fallow conducted upon rice seedlings (land preparation), and
Hypothetical scenario 6: invest money which farmers are willing toimprove water-intake
facilities in the whole year.
(3) Farmers’ understanding among the government, domestic, or industrial sectors about
which sector should be responsible for the compensation when their agricultural water is
shifted.
(4) The social and economic characteristics of the farmers.

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On the verification analysis of intrinsic values for rice farmers, the results are as follows.

(1) Fallow conducted before seedlings

1) For the first crop, the willing-to-accept intrinsic compensation value for the rice farmers
to conduct fallow owing to water-shift is NT$54,864 per hectare (Table 4).
2) For the second crop, the willing-to-accept intrinsic compensation value for the rice
farmers to conduct fallow owing to water-shift is NT$53,969 per hectare.

(2) Crop-change conducted before seedlings

1) For the first crop, the willing-to-accept intrinsic compensation value for the rice farmers
to conduct crop-change owing to water-shift is NT$39,641 per hectare.
2) For the second crop, the willing-to-accept intrinsic compensation value for the rice
farmers to conduct crop-change owing to water-shift is NT$37,822 per hectare.

(3) Fallow conducted upon seedlings

1) For the first crop, the willing-to-accept intrinsic compensation value for the rice farmers
to conduct fallow owing to water-shift is NT$78,334 per hectare.
2) For the second crop, the willing-to-accept intrinsic compensation value for the rice
farmers to conduct fallow owing to water-shift is NT$66,940 per hectare.

(4) Group fallow conducted before seedlings: For either crop, the willing-to-accept intrinsic
extra incentive value for the rice farmers to conduct group fallow owing to water-shift is
NT$8,259 per hectare.

Table 4: Questionnaire results for willing-to-accept prices in Tao-Yuan area

As a result, for the case of group fallow before seedling, the willing-to-accept price for farmers
in Tao-Yuan area according to the questionnaire is NT$63,124 per hectare for the first crop,
and NT$62,229/ha for the second crop.

When substituting this amount of prices into the rotational groups in order to provide aids
to the 0.20*106 tons/day deficit for domestic water-supply in 2011, the total compensation
budget ranges between NT$361 o 472 millions, as calculated in Table 5.

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VI. Conclusions and suggestions

1. Along with the implementation of food policies on the reduction of rice production as well
as the practice of fallow, there was fact regarding compensation, however, there was little
water for effective utilization. One of the possible reasons is that fallow was practiced
during dry periods, and the other is that planned systematic group fallow has not been
extensively promoted. It is considered that, if over 15 thousand hectares of planned fallow
area per year in Tao-Yuan could be properly guided for continuous rotational fallow, a
constant saved water resources could be expected to supply the non-agricultural sectors,
and a new opportunity of agricultural water resources management for the irrigation
associations is also created.

2. According to the medium growth forecast in year 2011, there would be a short of water
for 190 thousand tons per day in Tao-Yuan. It is suggested in this article if planned group
fallow for 3,650 hectares of double-crop fields could be implemented in Tao-Yuan. Thus
through promotion,education, and communication, if the support from farmers and
irrigation association could be acquired, then the implementation of planned group
fallow is expected to provide precise amount of saved water for projected purposes.

3. The response measure as proposed in this research is designed for constant water shortage,
and is under the principles of not impacting current cultivation system, not involving in
water-right adjustment, and coordinating with current fallow plans. However, for severe
droughts or emergency conditions, current regulations are ready to be followed as well
as carried out.

4. The expected incentive for the encouragement of group fallow is NT$8,260/ha in Tao-
Yuan area, which is around one tenth of the fallow price. If group fallow could be smoothly
pushed by adding this extra ompensation, it is worth further studying as well as reviewing
the applicability of relevant policies.

5. As there is drastic water-shortage pressure in Tao-Yuan area, yet large-scale water

resources projects require time and involve negotiations among arious agencies, it is
suggested in this research that a demonstration area with high cooperation willingness
of group fallow should be selected first, and a series of projects should be performed in
order for later extension.

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 Table2: Calculation of potential amount of saved water in accordance with fallow in Tao-Yuan area

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 Table 3: Suggested rotational fallow groups by work stations in Tao-Yuan area
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 Table5: Total WTA compensation budget required to provide aids to the domestic water-supply in Tao-Yuan area

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