Farmers’ group gets P5M worth of projects to improve rice production

Members of the Pangi Small Water Irrigation System Association (SWISA) of San Dioniso, Iloilo received P5,080,000.00 worth of diversion dam project, rice thresher, rice reaper, and five granular applicators from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas.

“These irrigation and mechanization support projects are intended to expand the irrigated rice production areas, increase farmers’ yield and enhance cropping intensity in the municipality,” said Engr. Jose Albert Barrogo, chief of the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (DA-RAED) during the turnover program held on March 30.

Amounting to P4.5 million, the diversion dam project was constructed as a supplementary source for irrigation of 27-hectare rainfed areas in Brgy. Pangi. This was funded under the DA Rice Program, the pier-type dam is seven meters wide and 10 meters long.

On the other hand, the P500,000 worth of farm machinery provided to the association seek to hasten the rice production and harvesting activities of the SWISA members.

The mechanical reaper can harvest at least 2.5 hectares per day with 85 percent minimum field efficiency while the open-cylinder-type rice thresher has two tons per hour output capacity.

Aside from broadcasting seeds evenly, the knap-sack type and gasoline-powered granular applicator can also be used as fertilizer and pesticide-sprayer.

“Daku guid ang mabulig sang dam para sa pagpatubig sang amon nga talamnan. Masolusyonan naman ang problema sa manug-garab kay may ginhatag man nga makinarya sa amon nga asosasyon,” according to chairman Rey Bama of Pangi Farmers SWISA. (A.M.S. Tabura/DA-RAFIS 6)