THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has set aside P12 million to fund a solar-powered irrigation system for farmers in Cavite.
DAR Cavite provincial head James Arthur Dubongco said personnel from the agency and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) have conducted final inspection of the P12- million solar-powered irrigation system (SPIS) in Tres Cruses, Tanza and Baliwag Magallanes in Cavite.
Dubongco also said the project will soon be turned over to Tres Cruses ARB Farmers Association Inc., headquartered at Sitio Gugo, Barangay Tres Cruzes, Tanza, and Barangay Baliwag Farmers Association Inc. in Magallanes.
He added that the project can irrigate 32 hectares of agricultural lands primarily benefitting 24 agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) households and other neighboring farmers.
"The DAR provincial office with the NIA successfully completed the final inspection of the two SPIS under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program-Irrigation Component," Dubongco said.
He also said the installation of the SPIS will promote the development and adoption of modern, appropriate, cost-effective, and environmentally safe agricultural machinery and equipment that can enhance farm productivity and efficiency.
Dubongco cited the timeliness of using solar-power irrigation pumps to irrigate farms amid the skyrocketing prices of gasoline and diesel.
He said the SPIS will be able to increase the cropping intensity by continuously providing timely and reliable irrigation water requirements, especially in the once-a-year cropping or rain-fed areas.
The SPIS is a cost-efficient and climate change adaptive technology that does not require the use of fuel, is not affected by power interruptions, is easy to operate, environmentally friendly, suitable for remote watershed and rain-fed areas and requires minimal maintenance.
It is being implemented under the DAR's Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project and is designed to help ARB organizations in remote areas irrigate their farmland to increase their production even during the dry months.