Abstract
The Paddy Field Dam is a flood control measure undertaken for the purpose of alleviating flood damages using paddy fields with runoff control devices installed in drainage boxes of paddy field plots. This study attempts to estimate the social function in economic value of the Paddy Field Dam measure being practiced in Kamihayashi district, Murakami city, Niigata prefecture, and examines its technical characteristics and the future possibilities. As a result of the estimation using the replacement cost method, the value of the Paddy Field Dam project was calculated to be approximately 39,000yen/10 a/year. This value by far exceeds the income earned by farmers through the production of rice per 10 a. The characteristics of the economic effect generated by the Paddy Field Dam can be summarized as follows: 1) Controllability of the flood control effect, 2) High dependency of the effect on the surrounding environment, 3) Autonomous emergence of the effect, 4) Restriction of risk avoidance behavior of farmers, and 5) No productivity change in the rice production. It has been suggested that the strategic planning approach taking into account these characteristics is crucial for the dissemination of the Paddy Field Dam.
