Farmers in Barangay Calaocan, Rizal, in Kalinga province, are now enjoying a diesel-less irrigation scheme after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned over P18 million solar-powered irrigation system (SPIS) to Rizal Indigent Farmers Irrigators Association.
The SPIS was provided by DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III as part of the initial wave of support services that the agency will be providing to the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of Kalinga and it has so far been providing them with an eco-friendly and sustainable source of water for their crops.
“We are taking care of the farmers just like what the late President Ferdinand E Marcos, Sr. and my grandfather former Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella, Sr. did during the previous implementation of the land reform program,” he said.
Estrella said the agency is taking advantage of the opportunities to create projects and adopt appropriate measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change within the agrarian reform areas.
“We need to build and create more projects that will help our farmers combat the negative effects of climate change,” he added.
Adela Damaso, DAR-Kalinga Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer, said the project can irrigate 60 hectares of agricultural lands primarily benefitting fifty (50) ARB households and other neighboring farmers.
Damaso said that SPIS is a cost-efficient and climate change adaptive technology that does not require the use of fuel. It is not affected by power interruptions, is easy to operate, environmentally friendly, suitable for remote watersheds and rain-fed areas, and requires minimal maintenance.
####
