TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Farmers and civic groups in Taiwan on Thursday urged the agriculture ministry to adopt smart irrigation systems after water cuts damaged crops during an ongoing drought.
CNA reported the Taiwan Clean Water Action Union, Fenghezi Incorporated Association, the Environmental Rights Foundation, and farmers from Hsinchu County submitted a petition to the ministry. They said recent water-saving measures were introduced too quickly and without clear communication, leading to significant crop losses.
The ministry has implemented rotating irrigation and deployed emergency wells and water trucks to ease water shortages across Taiwan. However, farmers said irrigation in some areas was halted abruptly, leaving rice seedlings without sufficient water and causing them to dry out and crack, Economic Daily News reported.
Farmer representative Chuang Te-hsin (莊德信) said officials met on March 17 to discuss water-saving plans, but irrigation was cut the following day. He added that subsidy applications only opened last Friday, forcing farmers to absorb losses despite investing between NT$6,000 (US$190) and NT$8,000 per unit of farmland.
Farmers in Hsinchu also said information on water cuts and compensation deadlines was limited, with applications only accepted until March 31. They added that some irrigation gates remained closed even when water was available, worsening conditions in nearby fields.
Environmental groups said water allocation policies should not force trade-offs between sectors and called for a system that benefits farmers, businesses, and the government. They urged authorities to introduce smart irrigation technologies such as sensors and precision water distribution, and to consider international models that better protect farmers’ water rights.
UDN reported that Chu Chih-pin (朱志彬), a division director at the Farm Irrigation Agency under the agriculture ministry, accepted the petition and said the proposals would be reviewed. He declined further comment, saying he was not authorized to speak on the matter.
Smart irrigation uses technology such as sensors, weather data, and automated controls to deliver water to crops only when and where it is needed. This improves water efficiency, reduces waste, and helps farmers maintain healthy crops, especially during drought conditions.
