DA COMMISSIONS FOURTH
SOLAR IRRIGATION SYSTEM
By Manny Piñol
Maramag, Bukidnon – The Department of Agriculture yesterday commissioned the fourth unit of the Solar Powered Irrigation System (SPIS) in the Central Mindanao University (CMU) compound in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon Province.
Built at a cost of P8.2-million and completed in a period of 10 months, the CMU SPIS is designed to irrigate 66-hectares.
It has a development cost of P124,000 per hectare, much lower that the usual development cost of up to P450,000 per hectare under the conventional irrigation systems.
The irrigation coverage area will be developed for hybrid rice production which will also serve as a learning center for students and farmers in the Northern Mindanao.
Unlike the previously completed SPIS units which draw water from creeks and rivers, the CMU SPIS gets its water supply from an underground spring.
Farmer leaders from Northern Mindanao attended yesterday’s commissioning and blessing ceremonies.
During the open forum, the farmer leaders asked for more SPIS units in their areas saying that the project would greatly enhance their productivity.
Since its launching by President Rody Duterte in March 2017, the DA has provided funding for 169 units of SPIS all over the country.
For 2019, however, the DA was given funds good for only 11 units.
With the success stories on the contribution of the SPIS in increasing productivity, the DA expects to get bigger financial Allied cation for 2020.
(Photos of the inauguration of the CMU SPIS were taken by Alan Jay Jacalan and Anacleto Degorio, DA AFID Biyaheng Bukid.)
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