The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) turned over to farmers’ cooperatives and associations the newly rehabilitated Dumacaa river irrigation system in Quezon Province.
The facility’s rehabilitation, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency for P115.7 million, is expected to benefit 1,839 hectares (ha.) of agricultural land in the region being tilled 1,585 farmers.
NIA said the rehabilitation also involves the development of one unit of irrigators association building and three units of combined offices and post-harvest and support facilities apart from mechanical works of Alsam, Lakawan, and Mayao dams; construction and realignment of 14.74-kilometer concrete lining; desilting works; rehabilitation and construction of 16 other structures; and the replacement of dilapidated turnout gates of 25 unit assemblies.
NIA also recently completed improvements in the Hapid irrigation system in the municipality of Lamut, Ifugao last October.
The P70-million diversion dam structures are expected to improve the services of the facility from previously using only a gravity intake-type dam which draws irrigation water from the Ibulao river.
The project will cover 11 barangays in the area and benefit 1,500 farmers and their families as it can irrigate 1,040 ha. of land.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) has distributed 2,210 units of farm machineries to farmer cooperatives associations (FCAs) as of December 2.
These include 631 four-wheel tractors; 365 hand tractors; 397 floating tillers; 52 precision seeders; 136 walk behind transplanters; 122 riding type transplanters; 126 reapers; 367 combine harvesters; and 14 mobile rice mills. – Jed Macapagal
