The Water Resources Agency has announced that it will cut water supply to more than 40,000 hectares of rice fields.
The agency decided on Thursday to not supply water to rice farmers in parts of Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Chiayi, and Tainan to ensure a stable water supply to the public and manufacturers.
The decision was immediately criticized by local governments and farmers groups. Commissioner of the southern Chiayi County, Chang Hwa-kuan, said the decision showed a lack of respect for agriculture. She called the decision reckless and said officials did not consult with counties that rely heavily on agriculture for revenues.
However, the agency said on Saturday that the decision was necessary because Taiwan is suffering from the worst drought in a decade. It also said it will hold a meeting in mid-January when more water rationing measures could be announced.
The Central Weather Bureau forecast on Saturday that the first three months of 2015 are expected to be drier than usual. This led to concerns about a shortage of water during that period.