NIA helps ensure rice sufficiency with no closure for irrigation systems
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Regional Office 6 has adopted a no closure for irrigation systems this season to help ensure rice sufficiency nationwide.
The no closure of the irrigation systems has been requested by Department of Agriculture (DA) Sec. Arthur Yap to make sure that the agriculture-based region could help meet the rice consumption requirement of the country.
Florencio Colorado, officer-in-charge of the NIA, said that they usually close the dams during the month of February.
However, this year, there is no closure particularly of the Jalaur-Suague, Aganan-Sta. Barbara irrigation systems in Iloilo province to ensure farmers of good harvest.
Colorado added that in Western Visayas there are about 7,500 hectares planted under the third cropping.
Colorado also said that in Iloilo province, there are about 1,421 hectares of rice fields now planted for third cropping that would need sufficient water supply from the irrigation systems.
The eight municipalities in Iloilo province planted for third cropping are Dingle, Pototan, Zarraga, Anilao, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, Mina and New Lucena. (PNA)