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  Large Canal Irrigation》Three-Year-Crop-Rotation Implementations

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▌From Small Assembly to Irrigation Group

When Chia-Nan Canal constructions were still underway, beneficiaries of the canal (landowners and tenants entitled to water use) were requested to form “small assemblies” in order to contribute manpower for the construction of canal ends. (Field ditches and drainage ditches) After water was supplied through the canal for irrigation, Public Reservoir/canal Chia-Nan canal Assembly then classifies the assembly as to water supply area and demanded members of each assembly (mostly landowners, and tenants) organize small assemblies to take charge of canal management, repair, water distribution, dispute settling, farmland exchange, nursery gardening, and land improvement etc. Above a small assembly was “Small Assembly Joint Association”, which was under the supervision of the monitor office. A monitor office was a department stations in each locality assigned by Chia-Nan Canal Assembly. It was mainly responsible for water allotment. It is similar in nature to a work station now.
　
At the time of “small assembly” setup by Public Reservoir/canal Chia-Nan Canal Assembly, the farmers did not show much interest because they not only had to “work for free”, help repair the canal, and clear clogged drainage, they also had to pay for water and cooperate with the Three-Year-Crop-Rotation policy. In spite of it all, they were forced to comply. “Small assemblies” were eventually organized under government pressure. During the period of the R.O.C., the “small assemblies” were changed to “implementation association” or the later “irrigation group”.

利用隔板來控制水路放大	Water man in charge of releasing water 放大

▌Three-Year-Crop-Rotation

Although the irrigation area of Chia-Nan Canal is said to be 150,000 hectares in area, it is difficult to supply water to all farmlands in actual practice. At the time of Chia-Nana Canal designing, Ha Ta Yo I Shi had already contemplated on the possibility of water inadequacy. Therefore, the three-year-crop-rotation was proposed at the time of his engineering design proposal.
　
The so-called “three-year-crop-rotation” divides land into large zones based on their water supply locations. (Each large zone is appox. 150 kah) Each large zone is then divided into 3 small zones. (Each small zone is 50kah) The three small zones are used to plant rice, sugarcane, and grains in a sequential 3-year cycle. When rice or sugarcane is in rotation, water is supplied as required, but when grain is in rotation, there is no need to supply water. This water supply rotation not only controls water use but also allows the land to regain strength. Land weakening from single-crop planting can be prevented. In addition, rotation planting also allows crops to be versatile. It also meets the sugarcane requirements of Sugar Corporation, Japan. Therefore, to The Office of the Taiwan Governor General, the three-year-crop-rotation is an agricultural policy that serves multiple purposes.
　

First year left [rice-abundant water supply] middle [sugarcane-scarce water supply] right [grain-scarce water supply]Enlarge

Second year left【grain-scarce water supply】middle【rice-abundant water supply】right【sugarcane-scarce water supply】Enlarge

Third year left【sugarcane-scarce water supply】middle【grain-scarce water supply】right【rice-abundant water supply】Enlarge

▌Is the three-year-crop rotation acceptable for farmers?

From landowner or farmers’ view point, not being able to decide what to grow on their lands makes them feel like “workers” hired by The Office of the Taiwan Governor General and leaving their fate to the government. Also, the Sugar Corporation collaborated with the government at the time. It did not comply with the crop rotation policy. The farmers felt as if the government was in favor of Sugar Corporation. Naturally, the three-year-crop-rotation policy was not an acceptable plan for them.

Rotation Irrigation Notice

Provided by Lui Wan-Li’s grandfather（Some contents are in image mosaic to protect privacy）

▌Water Rent Problem

The farmers complained about the “small assembly” implementations, the mandatory three-year-crop-rotation, and the fact that they were forced to comply with what to cultivate. They were angrier about the “water rent” policy. When Chia-Nan canal was still underway, landowners and farmers not only had to work, they also had to render “temporary tax levy” and shoulder the majority of the expenditure for the canal engineering. After the canal was open for use, they had to start paying “regular water rent” and special water rent”. “Regular water rent” was the expenses required to sustain Chia-Nan Canal Assembly and periodic repair and maintenance of the reservoir/canal. “Special water rent” was collected to repay the bank for loans borrowed to build the canal.
　
Upon completion of Chia-Nan Canal, the farmers had little knowledge over the functions of the canal. They generally believed that water rent collections at such large amounts before they had their first harvest, and the three-year-crop-rotation policy was unreasonable. There were complaints and criticisms on newspapers in Chinese. They called Chia-Nan Assembly “blood-sucking canal” and “water hazard assembly”. In 1931, Canal Assembly began levying “regular water rent” and “special water rent”. Thousands of landowners organized “Taiwan Zhou Land Owner Meet” and demanded the canal assembly to reduce the water rent and interest rate. Their demands to reduce “special water rent” were answered. It was reduced by half following their protest.
　

By the period of the R.O.C., water rent remained the most important issue of concern for farmers. Other than rendering regular membership fees (water rent), the farmers had to pay for major construction fees. For the Pai-Ho Reservoir construction in 1972 for instance, NT$6,000 of construction fees had to be paid per 1 hectare of land or NT$12,000 a year. (Twice annually) At the time, the living expenses of a child from a rural family studying in Taipei was only NT$300 a month.
　
In 1990, the government finally agreed to reduce the membership fees by 30%. The following year, the said fees were further reduced. In 1993, The General Guidelines for Irrigation Association was amended at the Legislative Yuan. According to the amended regulation, the government is required to subsidize the irrigation association membership fees in full. Farmers no longer shouldered water rents afterwards.

1985 Irrigation Association Membership Fee Levy Form

Provided by Lui Wan-Li’s grandfather（Some contents are in image mosaic to protect privacy）

   ▍Hsin Chia Elementary School ˙Houbi Township, Tainan County , Taiwan (R.O.C.)˙2008˙1024*768