(Photo courtesy of NIA-NSIMO)
CATARMAN, Northern Samar (PIA) – The Northern Samar Irrigation Management Office has installed some solar-powered irrigation pumps to aid farmers in rice production in the province.
The project is funded under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, which aims to improve the capacity and productivity of farmers and increase their income, leading to a better and decent quality of life.
According to Georden Lemsic, division manager of Northern Samar Irrigation Management Office, the national government through the National Irrigation Administration has demonstrated its commitment to providing effective and efficient irrigation systems to our farmer-beneficiaries.
There are currently two additional solar pump projects underway. One of them is located in Barangay Gebulwangan, Catarman, covering an area of 49.40 hectares with a budget of P35 million for testing this quarter.
The other project in Barangay Flormina, Mondragon, is almost complete with a budget of P65 million, covering an area of 79 hectares.
Several factors are affecting rice production in the province, as cited by some irrigation officials. These include climate change, poor drainage, and inadequate irrigation facilities, conversion of agricultural land to residential areas, high cost of inputs, calamities, crop damage, and pests and diseases.
Based on the 2023 report by NIA, there are 16,545 potentially irrigable hectares. Of these, 11,682 hectares are being developed, while the remaining 4,772 hectares are for development.
In the last quarter of 2023, Abundio M. Tagalog, the president of CM Recto-San Jose Irrigators Association Inc., accepted the project worth P35 million. The project aims to irrigate 60 hectares of farmland and benefit 34 potential farmers.
Tagalog expressed his gratitude to the national government for this unique project. He ensured its long-term use, which will benefit the member-beneficiaries with the help of the barangay officials and other partner agencies that supported the program.
(AAC/ADiaz/PIA Northern Samar)
