P12.7-M irrigation project boosts hunger mitigation program
San Jose, Antique-- The completion of the P12.7 million Communal Irrigation System (CIS) project in Fragante, Pandan, Antique is a big factor to spur the country's agriculture productivity and increase food production.
The Fragante CIS main facility was made operational in October 2003 at a tune of P6.360 million servicing 130 hectares of croplands.
The main facility contributed to higher yield, thereby creating the urgent need to undertake extension sub-projects in order to widen the coverage to adjacent barangays.
Heeding the farmer's call, an additional P6.371 million extension project was jointly implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Japan Bank for International Corporation (JBIC) and the local government unit which was completed and turned over to the Irrigators Association on March 8, 2007.
The additional funding widened the service-areas to 71 hectares covering the barangays of Buang -- 14 has., Tubungon -- 23 has., Siwo - 14 has. and Cabugao -- 20 has.
All in all the facility has a total coverage of 201 has. benefiting 260 farmers with a total cost of P12,732,228.20.
The Office of Eng'r. Jose Oredina, Provincial Irrigation Officer revealed that the newly completed CIS was funded by Japan Bank for International Corporation (JBIC) under the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP) Phase II.
The pooling of resources in the implementation of the CIS project had proven to be a good model of partnership and cooperation to boost food security program, Oredina said.
Meanwhile, in line with government efforts to address the hunger and poverty problem, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has allocated P27.5 billion worth of priority irrigation projects nationwide to enhance farm production and increase market goods supply.
The President has targeted four major irrigation projects costing P21.49 billion and several small irrigation projects worth P6 billion to spur the country's agricultural productivity, increase food production and allow the export of goods such as vegetables and other high value crops.
An initial fund of P1.5 billion has been released to NIA to implement the small irrigation projects which is expected to increase rice production to 859,053 MT per year.
(EA Abasquez/PIA)