Taiwan's water resources are characterized by high mountains, steep slopes, rapid flow, and uneven distribution of rainfall across time and location. Moreover, social and economic developments also impact the quality of irrigation water. In order to cofront the irrigation water quantity and quality challenges in Taiwan, it is essential crucial to transport the appropriate amount of quality irrigation water to suitable farmland in a timely manner, to nourish the land and irrigate crops. Accordingly, the Irrigation Agency’s develops "Reserve water and irrigate the land" as its vision and adopts four irrigation strategies: reserve water in the rainy season for the dry season, divert water to more farmland, intelligent irrigation operations, improve water quality and prevent water pollution to fulfill the vision.
In terms of reserving reserve water in the rainy season for the dry season, this strategy involves building small and medium-sized storage facilities according to local conditions, strengthening the use of irrigation water in rainy seasons to adapt to climate change, and increasing the resilience of irrigation water resources; when it comes to diverting water to more farmland, this involves speeding up the construction of irrigation facilities and strengthening the water delivery capacity of various channels. In addition to protecting the rights and interests of farmers in irrigation areas, multiple water sources are reviewed and developed at the same time without affecting the water rights of farmers in the original irrigation area, creating new opportunities to serve farmers outside the irrigation area; this combines blue belts and green belts to create new elements, connects water irrigation culture, rural beliefs, and recreational landscapes, and serves the three vital functions of irrigation production, ecology, and life. In terms of smart irrigation, the promotion of modern irrigation facilities improves irrigation efficiency while saving on water and labor. In addition, the increase in output value and quantity motivates young farmers to return to their hometowns, improves the rural population structure, and spurs rural innovation; in terms of improving water quality and preventing water pollution, efforts are made to actively maintain the quality of irrigation water, implement water quality monitoring through inter-ministry cooperation, and internationally standardize water quality testing; in addition, in order to improve the quality of irrigation water, the control of wastewater discharged into irrigation channels is also strengthened to prevent pollution.
The Irrigation Agency was established to provide farmers with better and more comprehensive irrigation services and with the high coordination efficiency of a government agency and input of public resources services were quickly expanded. In the future, all Irrigation Association personnel will be brought into the public service system via reforms, providing quality irrigation services and working closely with farmers as part of a brand new government agency to irrigation in Taiwan.