Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. The Department of Agrarian Reform
(DAR) and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management
(DA-BSWM) have completed the ground validation of three sites in Cagayan province for the construction and implementation of Solar Pump Irrigation
Systems for agrarian reform beneficiaries in the province costing approximately
P877,500.00 per site.
It was during a trip to Aparri, Cagayan Valley where
Department of Agricultute Secretary Emmanuel Pinol found out the irony of so
much available water in the vast Cagayan River but rice fields just beside it
were dry and unproductive during summer months.
On December 23, 2016 the DAR through Secretary Rafael "Ka Paeng" Mariano and the DA-BSWM signed a Memorandum
of Agreement for the implementation of the Solar Pump Irrigation System
project, wherein DAR provided funds for the project in the amount of fifteen
million pesos and DA through the BSWM to undertake planning of development of
small scale irrigation projects intended to enhance farm productivity and as
adaptation measures to Climate Change that will benefit agrarian reform
beneficiaries to achieve climate change resiliency.
There are three identified pilot sites to be managed by agrarian
reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) in Cagayan: (1) San Esteban Farmers
Cooperative in the Eastern Alcala Agrarian Reform Community (Eastern Alcala
ARC) in the municipality of Alcala; (2) Lasvinag Multi-Purpose Cooperative in
the Lasvinag Agrarian Reform Community (Lasvinag ARC) in the municipality of
Gattaran; and (3) Nabbotuan Multi-Purpose Cooperative in the Furaban Agrarian
Reform Community (Furaban ARC) in the municipality of Solana.
The identified project areas earlier passed the criteria set
to sustain the projects as these areas are planted with vegetable crops and
have existing deep well water facilities for farms indicating the potential
availability of ground water sources. The ARBOs are likewise established and
technically capable of sustaining the project.
The DAR-DA-BSWM Solar Pump Irrigation System project is being
implemented pursuant to Republic Act 9729, known as the Climate Change Act
wherein it mandates government to take effective actions to mitigate the
effects climate change. It calls for collective action among government
agencies to pursue climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, to
implement programs and projects to lead communities toward resiliency amidst
the risks and vulnerabilities brought about by climate change.
Under the Solar Pump Irrigation System project, the pilot
ARBOs shall be provided with solar panels and control accessories that will
generate solar energy. Submersible water pumps shall also be provided to draw
water from underground or open source. A water tank to store the water shall
also be constructed that will include pipe layout system to distribute water
for its intended use. The projects are expected to be operational by end of
July 2017. There are also other project sites in Isabela and in Region 1.
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| Solar panels for ARBOs. |
