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Event Date:2025-12-18
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Date :2025-12-18
Title:
Changhua Management Office Convenes the 2nd Advisory Council on Farmland and Irrigation Affairs
Collaborating with Council Members to Enhance Irrigation Management and Improve Agricultural Service Quality
Issued by: General Affairs Section
Date of Release: December 2025
Contact Information: 04-8332581#101 Liu, Wei-Chang, Administrative Section
The Changhua Management Office held the 2025 First Meeting of the 2nd Advisory Council on Farmland and Irrigation Affairs on November 26, 2025, presided over by Director Hsu, Jui-Min. In this term’s council, the practical experience of returning members, the professional dedication of newly appointed members, and the expertise of supervisors from various divisions come together to facilitate substantive discussions on key agenda items, including irrigation facility improvements, maintenance of greening works along embankments, and water regulation for disaster preparedness. The meeting reflects a joint public – private commitment to collaboration and deepening local engagement.
- Bridging the Past and the Future: Uniting Expertise with Full Support from the Central Office
Director Hsu Jui-Min highlighted that this term’s Advisory Council brings together experienced returning members and fresh talents, combining practical know-how with fresh expertise and enthusiasm, as well as emphasizing the Central Office’s full support, assuring that both local needs and operational assistance will be backed, jointly promoting sustainable regional agricultural development.
- Highlighting Achievement: A Public-Private Success Turning Canals into Riverside Green Corridor
The Changhua Office reported on the environmental maintenance outcomes. Partnering with Tianzhong Township, a pilot green beautification project was carried out along the Babao Irrigation Canal No. 1 (the Section between Tianfeng Temple and Linma Temple), turning formerly rigid water facilities into popular walking and leisure spots, and combining with weekend markets to further boost local activity, thereby earning strong recognition from the local community.
Director Hsu emphasized that the Office would continue expanding this collaborative model to other townships and communities. With local participation in maintenance or adoption of canal-side spaces, the Office will provide full support to create resilient, scenic agricultural waterways serving as green community assets.
- Listening to Public Feedback: Resolving Irrigation Challenges and Implementing Concrete Measures
In response to the concerns raised by council members on behalf of frontline farmers, Changhua Management Office has demonstrated high efficiency by addressing each of the following critical issues individually and committing to implementing concrete improvements:
- Dredging Waterways and Rehabilitating Aging Culverts
In response to council members’ concerns that some medium-sized channels require farmers to pump water at their own expense due to aging facilities or silted culverts, the Management Office has committed to working with local stations to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the Babao Irrigation Canal watershed. Measures will be taken to accelerate dredging and to ensure smooth water flow so that water can directly reach the fields, reducing farmers’ additional costs for installing pumps.
- Removing Miscellaneous Trees to Ensure Embankment Safety
A council member noted that wild trees growing near the Zhongshan Road Bridge in Shetou Township might compromise the retaining wall structure. The Management Office will dispatch personnel from the Water Allocation Control Center to conduct a site inspection and remove the miscellaneous trees promptly to ensure the overall safety of the embankment and the channel.
- Facility Upgrades and Control Optimization
The panel-type sluice gates of Sigu Irrigation Canal under Hemei Workstation frequently malfunction due to sediment accumulation. The Management Office plans to upgrade them to vertically operated hydraulic sluice gates to improve irrigation efficiency and ensure smoother water access for farmers. In addition, the Fuma Irrigation Canal, playing a crucial role in supplying both industrial and agricultural water, faces flooding during the rainy season due to inadequate drainage in its sedimentation basin. The Management Office will coordinate with the Third River Management Branch to enhance sediment discharge and drainage mechanisms, strengthening overall water supply resilience and ensuring stable irrigation and flood control.
- Smart Disaster Prevention: Balancing Flood Control and Water Storage
During typhoons under extreme weather conditions, sluice gate operations must balance flood control and irrigation water storage. Opening the gates may take several days to restore irrigation levels, which potentially causes temporary water shortages for farmers.
For areas at the “upstream and downstream ends”, where post-typhoon water replenishment can be difficult due to regional drainage policies, Director Hsu highlighted that the Management Office would continue to strengthen horizontal coordination with the county government. Gates will be precisely managed to retain valuable irrigation water while ensuring flood safety, mitigating impacts on agriculture.
- Expanding Services to Address Responsibility Gaps
For aging or damaged facilities on river public land (such as Mingjian Township, Nantou), where responsibilities are unclear, the Management Office will, with approval from the River Management Branch, help secure repair funding within its capacity, ensuring farmers have reliable support when needed.
Conclusion: Strengthening Services to Support Farmers
The meeting concluded successfully after a lively exchange. Director Hsu, Jui-Min expressed gratitude to all council members for their ongoing efforts in collecting local feedback, serving as a vital link between the government and farmers. He also hopes that the council will continue to consolidate local insights to further improve and optimize all irrigation works and facilities.
The Management Office will continue to expand services, optimize water conservancy facilities, as well as improving service quality and efficiency. By working closely with local communities, it aims to provide Changhua farmers with a safe, stable, and efficient water supply.