NIA opens irrigation systems amid El Niño forecast

The National Irrigation Administration Region VI opened some of its irrigation systems as scheduled on May 1, 2023 to start the cropping season.

Despite the looming El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) until August of this year, as forecasted by PAGASA, that may affect water supply for the cropping seasons this 2023 until early 2024, the NIA opened its irrigation systems and started the initial water delivery to start the farming activities for wet cropping season to take advantage of the available water in its sources (rivers).

NIA targets irrigating its service areas, however, as a response to El Niño some areas may experience delay in water release. With that, the cropping calendar may be extended to adjust to the available water from the sources. As a measure to ensure that the water requirements are met, NIA implements rotational water delivery and strict monitoring procedures for water distribution.

NIA also identified vulnerable areas, especially those that are in the downstream and tail-end portion of irrigation canals, which may be affected by water shortage. The service areas that were identified to be the initial recipient of irrigation water shall be strictly monitored by the office in order to sustain the water requirements for the growth of crops.

In the province of Iloilo, the Aganan River Irrigation System (RIS), Sta. Barbara RIS, Sibalom RIS, and Jalaur Extension of Jalaur-Sugue RIS already opened for initial water delivery on May 1, 2023. While Jalaur Proper, Suague RIS, and Barotac Viejo RIS shall start their initial water delivery on May 16, 2023.

The province of Antique’s Sibalom-San Jose River Irrigation System already started irrigating Extension I (Solong Dam) on April 1, 2023. Proper (Tipuluan Dam) shall start on May 15, 2023, while Extension II (Nasuli Dam) also targets to irrigate all its service areas on June 1, 2023.

In the province of Negros Occidental, the North District of Bago RIS and Pangiplan RIS service areas also started irrigation on May 1, 2023, except for Bago South District which had just recently finished its 3^rd cropping season and shall start to irrigate for the wet crop on June 16, 2023.

Aklan RIS East and Panakuyan RIS of the Province of Aklan also began irrigating on May 1, 2023. While Aklan RIS West shall begin on May 16, 2023. Capiz’s Mambusao RIS also started irrigation on May 1, 2023.

To ensure efficient water delivery among target areas and relieve the effects of extreme weather conditions, NIA laid out its water distribution plan to the IAs and assists them in their Systems Management Committee meetings, conducts massive information dissemination regarding the implemented schedules, and monitors the daily water discharge in dams.

In coordination with the Municipal and Provincial Agriculture Offices, NIA seeks to avail early maturing varieties of seeds with high commercial value to be distributed among farmers. NIA also takes advantage of interagency and local government partnerships for information dissemination and possible assistance to farmers to address water shortages.

NIA shall also provide water pumps and other water extraction equipment to assist farmers in vulnerable areas. Farmers are also being encouraged to practice Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) techniques to efficiently utilize the available water.  (Danielle Parian-Pijuan/NIA-6)