ALCALA, Cagayan—The Department of Agrarian Reform recently turned-over a solar-powered irrigation system in barangay San Esteban here in a bid to increase agricultural productivity of farmers.
The solar-powered irrigation system will benefit the 35-member San Esteban Agrarian Reform Community in this town.
Rosalina Bistoyong, DAR undersecretary for support services, said the area was chosen because of its arid location.
“Some areas here are too dry or too barren to support vegetation. We are providing our farmers with this solar-powered irrigation because we know that this will greatly increase their production,” she said.
The irrigation system was funded under the DAR’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project in partnership with the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Soils and Water Management.
The project includes community orientation, planning, and training on the operation of the project facility and installation of solar pump equipment.
Bistoyong said the solar-powered irrigation is a complete system which provides farmers with fresh water from a well and reservoir for use in livestock, domestic, and industrial agriculture.
“This irrigation project will address the ARC’s problem of extreme dryness during summer, especially if there is El Niño phenomenon,” she said.
Bistoyong said the agency should take advantage of the opportunities to create projects and adopt appropriate measures which will eventually mitigate impacts among agrarian reform areas.
“We need to build and create more projects that will help our farmers combat the negative effects of climate change. Our farmers should take care of this project because not all agrarian cooperatives are given opportunities like this, be responsible for managing it and make this productive for your own benefit and welfare,” she added.
Alcala Mayor Criselda Antonio thanked the DAR and the other agencies involved in providing the project for their farmers.
“This project is very timely after Typhoon Lawin devastated Cagayan. We thank the government for recognizing the effects of climate change. Rest assured that we will take appropriate care of the new blessing that has been given to our municipality,” she said.