Solar-powered irrigation triples rice cropping a year in Sibalom

The P5.5 million solar-powered irrigation system (SPIS) enabled three rice cropping seasons annually in Sibalom, Antique.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas Regional Executive Director Remelyn Recoter said that the SPIS installed in Brgy. Panlagangan is among the seven pilot project sites in the region funded in 2018 under the Rice Program.

“Farmers here used to have only one cropping in a year but now they have increased their cropping intensity not only five croppings in two years but three croppings in a year with this irrigation project,” she added.

With two units of 10 horsepower submersible pump, the irrigation facility can serve up to 19 hectares of rice areas in Sibalom.

“Gina encourage guid namon ang mga miyembro sang sini nga asosasyon nga atipanon gid maayu ang ini   nga irrigation facility kay mabudlay magkuha sang proyekto,” Recoter said during a program held today.

Moreover, the SPIS has 100 solar panels that can generate up to 27 kilowatts of electricity which is enough to irrigate two to three hectares of rice areas daily.

In Sibalom, majority of the rice farmers are planting early maturing varieties; hence they can plant three times a year.

“Those who already planted home saved seeds will still be able to receive two bags of urea fertilizer under the DA’s Rice Resiliency Project [this wet season]” Recoter said.

In 2021, DA will implement its programs and projects through the clustering of farmers. A cluster can comprise up to 100 hectares of adjacent rice areas.

Sibalom municipal agriculturist Albert Estoya said that they are prioritizing farmers who are active members of their respective associations and those who are listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

DA Operations Division chief Dominador Marquez, Brgy. Captain/FA President Merlie Lagunday and some farmer-members witnessed the turning over ceremony of the irrigation project of DA to Panlagangan Farmers Association. (Sheila Mae Toreno/DA-RAFIS 6)