DA-10 boosts Bukidnon farmers’ yield with P12-M agri infra projects

SAN FERNANDO, Bukidnon (PIA) — In a bid to increase agricultural productivity in the region’s rural towns, the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) recently turned over three agricultural infrastructure projects amounting to more than P12 million to the local government unit (LGU) of San Fernando, Bukidnon.

In a turnover ceremony on December 18, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan handed a certificate of turnover for P7.4-M worth of Solar-powered Irrigation System (SPIS) to San Fernando Municipal Mayor Rogelio C. Yeke and Barangay Captain of Cayaga, Noel R. Espares, in the presence of Municipal Agriculturist, Coleen Alva C. Ambos. 

Funded under DA’s Rice Program for 2024, the SPIS, with a solar array of 80 panels and pump power of 22 kilowatts (kW), can serve up to 20.5 hectares of rainfed rice production area. 

This structure, Espares said, benefits local farmers by ensuring easy access to irrigation, ensuring optimal cropping intensity and yield, higher productivity, and increased income.

“In the past, water used to be sourced from the creek, making our farming dependent on days with heavy rainfall to meet our needs for sufficient irrigation. Our farmers will largely benefit from this solar-powered pump provided by DA,” he said.

Also funded by the same program under FY 2023, the DA-10 also turned over the improved and rehabilitated Candelaria Diversion Dam worth P4.5 million to the Candelaria Balongkot Irrigators’ Association, through its chairperson Ben C. Cayang.

The improved 500-meter diversion dam in Sitio Riverside, spanned across 60 hectares of agricultural production areas, paving the way for increased productivity of farmers in the vicinity.

On the same occasion, the DA-10 turned over a 180-square meter nursery worth P496.95K to the Organisasyon sa Nagkahiusang Ipalambo ang Katawhan ug Kinaiyahan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ORGANIKK MPC), through its chairperson Nicolas T. Filipino. The project is funded under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan. 

Situated in Barangay Halapitan, the said nursery can house over 20 to 30 thousand coffee and cacao seedlings and is seen to benefit the organization’s membership of over 200 coconut farmers.

“Before the establishment of this nursery, our group did not have a set area to grow seedlings provided by the government. Now, our group can comfortably grow seedlings here, and we can ensure the success of the projects extended [by the government], especially since we are also eyeing the intercropping of coffee and cacao in the future,” Filipino said.

The activity, attended by Sangguniang Bayan Agriculture Committee Chairperson Dante C. Dy and SB Member Richard Taboclaon, underscored the importance of the newly established agri-infrastructure projects in enhancing farmers’ productivity by improving access to modern facilities.

Also present are Engr. Arlene Almo of the DA-10 Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center and Engr. Romil G. Española, Project Management Section chief of the DA-10 Regional Agricultural Engineering Division. (DA-10/PIA 10/Bukidnon)

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