TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Water Resources Agency said Monday that its irrigation project for Luona Village residents in Xinyi Township, Nantou County, is almost complete.
According to a press release, the project includes large reservoirs, distribution tanks, water pipelines, and subsidies for irrigation. The agency said it is undergoing final testing and expects facilities to be operational by the end of this month.
Xinyi Township is home to Taiwan’s largest population of Bunun Indigenous people. As of January 2020, there were approximately 59,536 members.
The agency said Luona Village mainly cultivates grapes, bell peppers, and cabbage, per CNA. Despite being close to water sources, its average altitude of over 900 meters makes irrigation challenging for farmers, per Liberty Times.
During dry winters, unstable water sources have led to competition for water, unauthorized pipelines, and maintenance issues.
The agency explained that water intake facilities were installed at Bishih Creek, with two reservoirs built, each with a capacity of 2,000 and 1,800 tonnes. A 700-tonne reservoir was also connected and revitalized, creating a total storage capacity of 4,500 tonnes.
The system includes 82 distribution tanks and 10 kilometers of pipelines, delivering water to each field and resolving shortages for 150 hectares of farmland and 120 households.
