Taiwan's Chianan irrigation area to begin second rice crop irrigation, but water levels remain a concern

Recent rainfall has boosted water levels in Taiwan's Zengwen and Wushantou reservoirs, but the stored water is still not enough to fully irrigate the second rice crop across the Chianan irrigation area. The Chianan Irrigation Association announced that irrigation for the first and second groups of the irrigation system will commence on July 1.

Decisions regarding irrigation for the remaining groups, covering areas like Xinying, Houbi, Chiayi, and Puzi, will be made by the end of June, following a review of the water situation. This phased approach aims to manage the limited water resources effectively.

Farmers are anxious about the irrigation schedule. While the first rice harvest is nearing completion, concerns linger about potential rain damaging the crops and, more critically, the availability of water for the second planting. The region has experienced mandatory fallowing periods since 2018 due to water scarcity, a situation that has significantly impacted agriculture and farmers' livelihoods despite government incentives.

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Farmers need time for plowing and land preparation, and seedling cultivation requires 20 days. We hope to make a decision before the end of June and also hope for continuous water inflow into the reservoirs.

The Chianan irrigation area, which is divided into six groups, requires a substantial amount of water for the second rice crop, estimated at nearly 350 million tons, almost double the amount needed for the first crop. The total water demand for Tainan City's industries and residents is about 1.05 million tons per day.

Officials are hoping for continued rainfall to replenish the reservoirs. The irrigation association is expected to make a final decision on the remaining irrigation groups by late June, balancing the need for timely planting with the reality of water conservation. Meanwhile, other irrigation areas, such as Baihe Reservoir's Dongshan and Fenjihu, are scheduled to begin irrigation on June 22, with river intake irrigation areas starting as early as June 21.

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If the reservoir storage is insufficient, Chianan cannot fully irrigate. But we cannot irrigate too late, which affects sowing, nor can we start and then stop. Tainan has repeatedly had mandatory fallowing since 2018 due to water shortages, which has had a great impact on agriculture and farmers.