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  Large Canal Irrigation》Interview with People Involved in Irrigation

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| Work Station Head |■

| Water man in charge of releasing water |■

| Village Head with 50-years of rice planting experience |■

　

▌Interview with water man Mr. Lui whose “livelihood depends on water”

　

　

The water man is the water release worker hired by the work station. He is in charge of opening and closing the canal gate and make sure water flows to rice fields within regulated time. Mr. Lui is 77 years old now. In his 40s, he started working as a water man. He resigned from the job later. In his 60s, he took up the job again. He has been working there for more than 10 years now.

　

Q1：What irrigation area are you in charge of?

A：I am in charge of Lujhu area. The irrigation area of Sinjia Village is divided into two zones. One is Lujhutan, and the other is Baishatun. Lujhutan is located at Shueiwei. It is a three-year-two-crop rotation area. As the farmlands are relatively smaller in size, there are only two water men. Baishsatun is relatively larger and it is a two crop rice area (two crops a year), so, there are three water men.

Q2：Is “water release” at the water man’s discretion?

A：The work station decides where to release water and how long it is released. I only do as asked.

Q3： How about your work hours and pay?

A：This job has no fixed work hours. We must standby 24 hours a day even if it rains. Speaking of the salary of a water man, the pay used to be higher. We got paid during crop rice periods. Now, we only get paid for water release. The income has shrunk quite a bit. Our livelihood now depends on “water”. We do not get paid if there is no water release on the day.

Q4： What was done to water stealers?

A： There used to be many rice growers, so, they often fought for water. As a result, water stealing happened occasionally. When we caught a thief, we were expected to take him to the police station, but we normally just gave him warning or ask him to write a statement of repentance. We would then ask the village head to educate everyone that water stealing was a crime. Now, there are fewer rice growers, if someone really needs water, I will release water for him although there are still people who open the water gate without first getting permission from us.

Q5：What it is like to be a water man?

A：Being a water man is usually easy except when there is no rain. It means there is no water release. That is the time pressure sets in. When this happens, people come to me and start complaining. Although it is not my fault, I always feel uncomfortable. When everyone has water to use, that is the time I feel my hard work has been rewarded.

　

　

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