To cope with a worsening drought, the nation will begin to conserve water by leaving more farmland fallow, Executive Yuan Spokesperson Sun Lih-chyun said today during a press conference on this policy.
The water shortage crosses industries and regions, and the nation will face it together, the spokesperson remarked. In the future, additional limits and regulatory measures respecting industrial and household water usage will be put in place as needed.
Normally typhoons would bring sufficient rainfall for the winter and spring farming needs of central and southern Taiwan. However, this year the nation had fewer typhoons, and while this meant less crop damage, it also resulted in a severe water shortage.
For this reason, the government has to readjust water distribution in accordance with the procedures it has built over many years. With the water supply increasingly tight, existing water restrictions appear to be insufficient, and therefore more land must be left fallow. Reimbursement will be provided to affected farmers and businesses, Sun said.
The Council of Agriculture (COA) stated that irrigation will be suspended for the first rice planting season of next year in 41,576 total hectares of land under the Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung and Chianan (Chiayi and Tainan) irrigation associations. Compensation for rice farmers will be calculated according to the MOEA's operating guidelines governing the dispatch, utilization and coordination of water for agricultural use, with 5 percent added to reflect commodity price increases. The budget will be funded by all relevant ministries, and only current farmers may receive compensation. If affected farmland is leased, the compensation will be granted to the lessee, and the relevant stipulations in the leasing contract will be followed.
Article 19 of the Water Act stipulates that compensation must be provided for damages resulting from the suspension of agricultural water usage rights and consequent increase of fallow land, the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Water Resources Agency (WRA) pointed out. The COA, Ministry of Science and Technology and MOEA—in other words, the industrial and the science and technology sectors—will share the burden for this reimbursement.
Agriculture is the "mother of all industries," as it meets the basic survival needs of all people, Sun said. It is thus the government's responsibility to care for the agricultural industry and support farmers coping with natural disasters, he stressed.
Sun added that Premier Mao has instructed the COA and the WRA to keep communicating with the counties and cities that are rationing water or leaving land fallow. The premier also urged all citizens to save water.
The press conference was also attended by COA Deputy Minister Chen Wen-te and WRA Deputy Director-General Tyan Chau-ling.