DAR-Batangas to develop bio-intensive farming system

The Department of Agrarian Reform in Batangas will develop a bio-intensive farming system through the completed solar-powered irrigation system (SPIS) in 4 pilot areas located in Jaybanga, Lobo; Bagong Silang, San Juan; Escribano, San Juan; and Banilad, Nasugbu.

The project will be implemented jointly by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), concerned local government units (LGUs) and ARBOs in the area and will benefit a total of 254 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and non-ARB members.

Representatives from the concerned agencies signed a pledge of commitment to support the project entitled “Design and Development of a Sustainable Integrated Bio-Intensive Farming System for Completed SPIS projects”.

Cupido Gerry Asuncion, CALABARZON regional director, said the project aims to intensify the production of local food commodities to increase ARBO’s income to improve the quality of life of the ARBs and residents in the area.

“Through the SPIS projects and imputing of appropriate agricultural technologies and enabling mechanisms, we can maximize land utilization in a given crop year and increase the effective area of cultivation to 200% or more,” Cupido said

He said that the project is in line with the goal of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to help achieve food self-sufficiency and food security and anchored on the nine (9)-point development agenda of the DAR Secretary for the next six (6) years.

The project has five (5) project components namely; SPIS enhancement, land and farm development, preparation of farm production plan and budget, crop production, and institutional and capability building and development of ARBO members.

Cupido said that the project site validation will be conducted in January 2023 to determine the appropriate projects which can be implemented in the pilot areas.