The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in cooperation with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) recently turned over a PhP 15-M worth of solar-powered irrigation to irrigate the 30 hectares of agricultural lands in Barangay Urdaneta, Magallanes in the province of Cavite.
Samahan ng Magsasaka ng Bagong Urdaneta, Inc., (SAMABAU) Vice Chairman Garbo Kiwas said this irrigation would be a great help in increasing their farm production leading to a higher income.
“We used to plant only twice a year because we only rely on rainwater and now that we have irrigation facilities to regularly supply our farms with water, we can now plant all year round,” he said.
Kiwas added that with sufficient water for their vegetable production, they expect that they would yield higher quality products.
The project dubbed Bagong Pook Solar Pump Irrigation Project is DAR-NIA’s commitment to provide sustainable irrigation service to the Filipino farmers.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II James Dubongco said this project is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., through the leadership of DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, to strengthen the agricultural sector in the country.
“The DAR and NIA would continue to work together to ensure that all agricultural lands in the countryside would be provided with reliable irrigation facilities,” he said.
On the other hand, Magallanes Mayor Jasmin Maligaya-Bautista said the irrigation project would play a big role in the town’s food security program as well as it would be a big help in uplifting the farmers’ economic lives.
####
