Following the success of its Tarlac solar 2 project, the Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC) has committed to extend its Agro-solar initiative to include Citicore Solar Tarlac1, in Arayat, Mexico, and Clark, both in Pampanga province.
Citicore reported that the pechay planted alongside the combined agriculture and solar power generation is expected to yield up to 5,000 kilograms pechay, also known locally as ‘napa cabbage’, from two cycles this summer. CREC management said that through their AgriSolar initiative, “they can still plant more chilis, bahay kubo vegetables, etc.
Also, “since 2021, CREC harvested at least 3,735 kilograms of crops such as turmeric, arugula, and French beans, and provided livelihood and at least 45 partner-farmers and local off-takers. Accordingly, partner-farmers would benefit from profit-sharing, while local of-takers would be able to purchase these crops at a price that allows for profitable margin. While the profit-sharing of farmers is between 20 and 30 percent.
MY COMMENT:
I strongly support tie-up between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and CREC on the issue of AgriSolar initiative being introduced to the farmers by “marrying solar power generation with crop farming to help address food security, while generating green energy to meet power demands.”
The sincerity of CREC to help the government address food security and generate green is evidence by spending P3 million during the trial period of their technology behind the ably piloted AgriSolar initiatitve. However, the said technology is selective as the country does not have that much number of solar plants unlike Luzon.
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