Dozens of farmers yesterday gathered in front of the Ministry of Economic Affairs to deliver a petition and protest against the ministry’s decision to stop supplying water for agricultural use.
The demonstration came after the Water Resources Agency said last week that it plans to stop supplying water to a total of 41,576 hectares of farmland nationwide in a bid to conserve about 409 million tonnes of water for household and industrial use, adding that it would be the largest irrigation cessation since 2004.
Green Party Taiwan member Lu Dong-je (呂東杰), who organized the protest, said that although the government would compensate farmers NT$85,000 per hectare, he doubts that farmers who rent would receive the money.
Photo: CNA
“Some landlords might not give the compensation to farmers. How do farmers survive if they cannot cultivate and do not receive the compensation?” Lu said.
Lu said the water shutoff could extend to the end of phase-one cultivation in June next year, which means that farmers would have to wait until July to start seedlings and until November to harvest.
“The measure would consequently leave farmers receiving their first income at the end of November next year,” Lu said, adding that the water supply suspension policy will not only make farmers’ lives difficult, but also affect the nation’s agricultural industry.
Agency Deputy Director-General Lai Bor-hsun (賴伯勳) accepted the petition from Lu, but did not make a response to the protesters, saying only that the agency would look further into the matter.
Agency Chief Secretary Lai Chien-hsin (賴建信) said he understands farmers’ anxiety over the policy, but added that this is an inevitable decision to make to brace against the worst drought in the past decade.
“The agency will invite relevant agencies to discuss the issue as soon as possible, and offer an official response to the farmers’ request by [Friday next week],” Lai said.
The ministry scheduled another meeting on water supply issues on Jan. 15, to decide whether to suspend irrigation water from Miaoli County’s Chungkang Creek (中港溪), he added.
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