Estimating the inverse demand function for transferring agricultural water in Taiwan

Changing climate has increasingly exacerbated droughts and floods in Taiwan; therefore, it is important to understand the actual demand of transferring Taiwan’s agricultural water. This estimation model could help the water resource agencies to develop appropriate mechanisms for transferring agricultural water, as well as bargaining tools for water-related negotiations. In this study, an inverse demand function estimation model for transferring agricultural water was established, and the water usage statistics derived from the water charge agreements, covering the period from January 1989 to December 2006 and including drought and non-drought periods, regarding the charging of water management fees and water usage fees, was applied to the estimation model in our empirical research. The agreements were made between irrigation associations and water companies, industrial water users, and science and industrial parks, for the purposes of strengthening irrigation management, building usage, and disposal of remaining water. The empirical research was conducted to estimate the demand for transferring agricultural water using double-log regression model for panel data, and analyzed with random effects models for regular conditions and drought periods. The results showed that the inverse demand function developed in this study was able to pass Largrange multiplier test, and adjusted R ² for the regression were high, fitting the random effects model showing good compatibility with the sample selection. From the results, we can verify the estimation models to forecasting models. The significant results not only prove that the model could provide important market information for the commercialization of water resources, but water resource agencies could also make use of this important information to develop suitable mechanisms for transferring agricultural water, as well as bargaining tools for negotiation of water transactions.     

Experiences of water transfer from the agricultural to the non-agricultural sector in Taiwan

Two type of water transfer have occurred in Taiwan, namely, regular and emergency transfers. According to the prevailing Water Law, water is permitted to transfer among water rights holders whenever they need and agree upon relevant compensation. As for the emergency transfer, in the event of extensive drought, every water user sector will suffer serious water shortages resulting in unavoidable economic losses. The Government should step in to perform emergency water transfer by suspending agricultural water rights a course of action considered to cause smaller losses even when an entire rice crop is abandoned, to minimize overall losses to the national macro economy. This study has examined two typical water transfer cases that were implemented in Taiwan. The first one involved the regular transfer of agricultural water from the Changhwa and Yunlin Irrigation Associations (IAs) to the industrial user Formosa Petrochemical Corporation (FPC). The second one involved the transfer of agricultural water from the Taoyuan, Shimen and Shinchu IAs to domestic and industrial uses during the period from 2002 to 2006 as an emergency transfer. From the perspective of water transfer options, Taiwanese case studies have demonstrated that an officially recognized marketing oriented water transfer mechanism has yet to be established. However, water transfer is still undertaken whenever necessary. In this respect, regardless of the type of water transfer undertaken, water rights can only be suspended but not terminated. In spite of the types of water transfer, it is inevitable to affect the ecological and environmental functions. Therefore, further investigations with related topics should be broadly taken into account. Ecosystem services of paddy fields have attracted increasing recognition in the monsoon Asian countries. Currently, there is a research program collaborating with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) on the impact and influence induced by water transfer with a major concern on the ecosystem services of paddy fields in Taiwan.     

中国茶叶在摩洛哥市场的价格及需求弹性分析

摩洛哥是中国茶叶的第一大进口国,本文分析了中国茶叶出口摩洛哥市场的价格状况,在此基础上对需求弹性进行了测算,结果表明,中国茶叶垄断了摩洛哥市场,主导着摩洛哥茶叶市场价格。     

The development and management policy of water resources in Taiwan

Taiwan is a small island located in monsoon Asia with an annual precipitation exceeding 2,500 mm, which is 2.6 times the world average. However, water available for each person in Taiwan is less than one seventh of the world average due to Taiwan's crowded population and river basin characteristics. Steep land slope and uneven time and space distribution of rainfall have caused water resources problems. Providing a pure and plentiful supply of water for the people challenges the Water Resources Agency in Taiwan. History is a powerful tool for portraying the future. This paper discusses major themes in the review of water resources development over the last centuries. The changes in social-economic development, water resources infrastructure and demands of water are central to the discussion, with an eye to the plentiful and sustainable implications of water resources management in Taiwan. The water policy in the twenty-first century is also outlined.Dr. Hwang is the Advice of the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Taiwan, Chairman of the Water Resources Committee, Chinese Institute of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, a board member of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) Chinese Taipei Committee, former chairman of the Chinese Society of Agriculture Engineering (CSAE), former director of Water Resources Agency (WRA), former director of the Taiwan Provincial Water Conservancy Agency (TPWCA), and former director of the Taiwan Provincial Water Conservancy Bureau (TPWCB).     

新时期农业综合开发面临的挑战与发展对策

回顾和总结了湖南省实施农业综合开发项目14年来取得的成绩．针对新世纪农业发展在加入WTO后面临的诸如农产品质量与食品安全、农业产业结构调整、市场的多样化需求等一系列严峻挑战，为加强农业基础建设和生态环境建设，促进我省农业结构的调整转换升级，提高农业产化业水平，实现农民增收，农业增效，农村经济可持续发展．提出了新时期农业综合开发应采取的对策。     

Research on the agricultural pattern of the primitive rice-cultivation in Taiwan

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Distribution of heavy metals in the sediments of agricultural fields adjacent to urban areas in Central Taiwan

In 2002, the Environmental Protection Administration of Taiwan began a detailed survey of heavy metals in soils, to determine the scope of the contaminated lands in the Changhua County’s agricultural fields. It was found that agricultural lands have been seriously polluted with Cr, Hg, Cu, Ni, and Zn, due to industrial wastewaters. This study, characterized the processes associated with heavy metal pollution by analyzing heavy metal contents in sediments within two periods, 2002 and 2010. This study employed geostatistical and multivariate statistics to obtain spatio-temporal variations of heavy metal pollution in paddy fields. The results indicate that, changes in industrial types have been altered the characteristics of pollutions, such as reducing the number of plants in industries (i.e., electroplating, surface treatments, metal works, chemicals, papermaking, etc.). Their wastewaters contained a large number of Ni, making the pollution composition of driven factors have been changed that can be indicated in this study. Pollution distribution and irrigation systems are positively correlated and concentrations of Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn were inversely proportional to the scale of irrigation channels.     

Research on the agricultural pattern of the primitive rice-cultivation in Taiwan

In Taiwan's history, rice and sugarcane,the two main economical foundation stonesof Taiwan, were well known in the world.     

大豆不同喷灌时期水量与效益分析

本文根据大豆需水规律，结合苗情，墒情和天气情况，在大豆初花期和结英初期进行了相当于人工降雨30mm,40mm两个不同水量的喷灌对比试验，发现旱情及时补水灌溉，以最小的水量获得最高的经济效益。     

Quantitative analysis of reusing agricultural water to compensate for water supply deficiencies in the Nile Delta irrigation network

The main problem facing farmers in the Nile Delta is water shortages at the ends of irrigation networks and canals. These problems have worsened as water demands have increased. Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is currently trying to avoid water deficits by returning agricultural drainage water to the irrigation canals. In the Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, some canals have an oversupply in some months and deficits in others. Ministry officials started a project by constructing culverts connected canal ends with the main drain (Bhr Nashrat) to provide supplemental agricultural drainage backflows (SADB) channeled through these culverts. However, this return is not controlled, and flows are based only on differences in the hydraulic head. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of SADB to counteract water shortages when the water supply from head regulators (WSHR) is insufficient. Our analysis considered the adequacy of the water supply and indicators of dependability and equity of supply. We tested two water supply conditions: (1) WSHR only and (2) WSHR plus SADB. During the summer (May–September) of 2008, SADB significantly improved the system’s ability to meet the irrigation water requirements (IWR) in some months. Adequacy and dependability, therefore, improved from “fair” to “good.” During the following winter (October–April), SADB improved adequacy and equity only in March and April, since water availability was generally sufficient under WSHR.     

Study for determination of industrial water corrosivity in Kashan Fajre Sepahan Galvanizing Mills during 2005-2006 Iran

This research was carried out in Kashan Fajre Sepahan Galvanizing mills (KFSGM) for evaluation of water corrosivity during 2005-2006. A total of 18 samples were taken from various points of the water supply system for testing the specific parameters and calculation Langelier Index (LI), Ryznar Index (RI) and Pukorious Index (PI). This research showed that in raw water (sand filter effluent) LI were positive as well as RI and PI were lower than 7 which means that mentioned water is not corrosive. Also LI in treated water by reverse osmosis process was negative and RI and PI were higher than 7, so, this water has corrosive properties. Finally, calculated indexes indicate that according to LI, conditioned water is not corrosive but based on RI and P. this water tend to corrosivity which this findings is compatible with literature review statement. So it is recommended that, for water conditioning addition of preservative chemicals to be continued but at the same time another alternatives such as pH adjustment, air stripping and deoxygenating, control of carbonate concentration and split flow treatment should be studied.     

Correction to: Building a low-cost domestic wastewater reclamation system using local agricultural waste in Kinmen islands,Taiwan

Paddy and Water Environment - In the original publication of the article, the affiliations of the authors have been mentioned incorrectly. Now the correct affiliations have been provided in this...     

Community water management to intensify agricultural productivity in the polders of the coastal zone of Bangladesh

Paddy and Water Environment - Most of the lands of the southern coastal zone of Bangladesh are protected from tidal flooding and storm surges by embankments constructed during the 1960s and 1970s,...     

Assessment of water quality in small agricultural ponds in Nara,Japan

Paddy and Water Environment - In Japan, since ancient times, numerous small- to medium-size agricultural ponds have been constructed to irrigate paddy rice fields. Economic growth and urbanization...     

新时期我国碾米业的整合提升、走向振兴之路

在我国粮食行业走出低谷、进入开拓市场、稳步发展的时候 ,全国碾米行业主要企业的高层领导和专家聚集一堂 ,共同商讨新时期碾米行业的振兴之计 ,谋求在新时期加快发展步伐 ,壮大企业实力 ,满足迈向全面小康社会的人们对粮食和食物的需求 ,更好地为确保政府的宏观调控 ,为新世纪国家的粮食安全服务 ,这是很有意义的一件事。作为粮食系统的老兵 ,我十分高兴参加这次碾米业的盛会 ,并就最近调查几省碾米业的情况作一发言 ,供大家参考。从我国米业的实际情况和当前国内外市场的形势出发 ,我认为当前我国米业急待解决的问题 ,概括起来说就是“整…     

浙江茶业"十五"规划要点:"五个化"

面对我国加入WTO后的新形势,浙江茶业同时面临难得的机遇和严峻的挑战.如何抓往机遇,迎接挑战,在新世界再创浙茶辉煌,当前重要任务之一,就要订好规划,制定措施.本文拟就浙江茶业"十五"规划的指导思想和工作重点,谈些初浅看法.     

The reasonable scale of water reuse system in irrigation area: a case study of Chitong irrigation district in Taiwan

The aim of this study is to assess the potential of the irrigation return-flow in a water reuse system, for the supply of other local water users. Both field survey and water-budget analysis were conducted, and the Chitong irrigation district in Taiwan was selected as the case study area. The results indicate that through the regulation of a pond with the effective capacity of 20,000 m³, a stable supply of 10,000 CMD of reuse water can be generated if the return-flow from the irrigation area of 200 hectares, which is about the size of a rotation plot, is intercepted. However, as the irrigation and effective rainfall are low from December to March, which are considered high risk for water supply, the irrigation return-flow decreases accordingly, and a series of responding measures are also suggested.     

Application of GCOM-C SGLI for agricultural water management via field evapotranspiration

Paddy and Water Environment - Evapotranspiration is a key parameter in agricultural water planning and management strategies because it determines the crop and irrigation water requirements. With...