stored water in paddy ponds stays “running”, and provides the best “wetland” ecology for animals as well as plants, groundwater recharge, and environmental conservation, etc. The running water also improves the rural sanitation, creates a friendly environment for farms or villages, and satisfies the demand for the joint functions of production, living, and ecological. In addition, as the utilization ratio is high, this ponded water could not only provide the auxiliary water sources for miscellaneous purposes in normal time, but could also extend availability in times of water deficit during drought.
From the viewpoint of the three joint functions of paddy field, the effective use of water resources, and the maintenance of sustainable productivity of soils, and in order to provide the basic income for farmers without changing yet improving the current paddy field structures, the directions for future agricultural development may include:
A. Maintaining the contribution of ricepaddy production;
B. Strengthening the functions of paddyfields to living and ecological;
C. Emphasizing the meaning of rice paddyirrigation to effective use of water resources as well as the maintenance of soil productivity; and
D. Finding a solution to irrigation water bymaking fully use of fallow areas. Conclusion