Solar-powered irrigation facility seen to boost Cavite farmers’ productivity
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has recently turned over to a group of farmers in Tanza, Cavite, a P12-million solar-powered irrigation system (SPIS) to boost the farmers’ food production capability through irrigation using the power of the sun.
In a news release, DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III said the provision of irrigation is one of the primary goals of the DAR, an agency mandated to distribute land to the landless and help farmers with small landholdings cope with the challenges of farming in remote areas.
Atty. Milagros Isabel A. Cristobal, DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Office, said two SPIS worth a total of P12 million were turned over by DAR to the Tres Cruses Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and Farmers Association Inc.
The SPIS projects are situated in Sitio Gugo, Barangay Tres Cruzes, Tanza, and Barangay Baliwag, Magallanes, Cavite. The project was implemented by DAR in partnership with the National Irrigation Administration.
Energy solution, low-emission agriculture
For his part, James Arthur T. Dubongco, DAR-Cavite Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II, said SPIS offers a viable, low-tech energy solution for irrigated agriculture.
He said the project also provides a reliable source of energy in remote areas, contributing to rural electrification, reducing energy costs for irrigation, and enabling low-emission agriculture.
“SPIS runs on solar energy so that bringing water to farmlands will be much more affordable than the traditional diesel and gasoline-powered engine pumps,” he added.
Dubongco said the project can irrigate 32 hectares of agricultural lands primarily benefitting 34 agrarian reform beneficiary households and other neighboring farmers.
The project was implemented under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) project of the department.
Environment-friendly, sustainable
Danilo Arnes, President of Tres Cruses Agrarian Reform Beneficiary and Farmers Association Inc. lauded the DAR for the support and assistance, adding that “tapping the solar energy is environmentally friendly and provides farmers with a sustainable source of water for their palay and high-value crops.”
Arnes proudly expressed the association’s appreciation for being provided with the SPIS and assured the department that they will preserve and properly use the SPIS.
“We can plant anything when there is water,” he said.
“I was talking to market vendors, they said they would buy our vegetables because it is clean as compared to rain-fed or vegetables that were irrigated from the creek,” he added.
