P1.8B Bago River Irrigation System benefits 9,627 farmers
BACOLOD CITY — The Bago River Irrigation System Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (BRISRIP) amounting to P1.868 billion serves 9,627 farmers of Southern Negros Occidental.
The BRISRIP traverses 13,277 hectares of farmlands of the cities of Bacolod, Bago and La Carlota and municipalities of Murcia, Pulupandan, San Enrique and Valladolid. It is one of the biggest and the longest river in the province of Negros Occidental.
NIA administrator Carlos S. Salazar said that the rehabilitation and improvement of existing facilities of Bago River Irrigation System (BRIS) is needed and timely in order to promote and strengthen agricultural development and improve income level of inhabitants surrounding the project area.
He added that the sufficient flow of water through the BRIS was the result of good cooperation of farmer beneficiaries and support of the local government units involved.
Administrator Salazar stressed that the river restoration activities is one of the support services provided by the NIA for farmers in order to have sustainable irrigation systems for them to increase their production.
Meanwhile, Engr. Edilberto Lomigo, regional director of NIA-6 encouraged the irrigators association members to protect and utilize effectively the BRISRIP for this an example of a lifetime project that the next generation can make use of.
The BRIS is a run-off the river type if irrigation system with Bago River as the main source of water. Its irrigation facilities and structures consists mainly of diversion dam and intake with diversion tunnel of 187.02 kms of open channel canals and appurtenant structures. It has 178 kms. Of service farm to market roads and a network of class “A” roads that connects the irrigation system to the cities and municipalities within the province of Negros Occidental.
The completion of the BRISRIP increase the irrigated areas from 9,723 has to 12,777 has during wet season and from 8,093 has to 11,222has during dry season. It increases the production volume of 21,446 tone/year to 53,663 tons/year during wet season and from 20,400tons/year to 57,497tons/year during dry season. And intensify the cropping of major commodities from 70% to 100% during wet season and 66.90% to 80% during dry season.
This project is expected to raise the annual gross farm income from P41,779/ha/year to P80,940/ha/year. (JEEO/RAFID 6)