SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) — Farmers from the upland barangay of Hamtic, Antique expressed delight with the productivity of their farms despite the occurrence of the long dry months.
These farmers attributed the good yield to the newly-rehabilitated Small Diversion Dam Project (SDDP) that went operational, just in time with the forecast of El Niño phenomenon.
Salvacion Verde, farmer technician and President of Masanag Farmers Irrigators Association, said they were able to grow plants even with the occurrence of El Niño because of the stable supply of water from the SDDP project covering about 30 farmers.
“Nakatanum kami bisan tag-rinit, kag nagpabor kanamun ang tiempo tungod gamay lang ang kahalitan kang balabaw tungod sa mainit nga panahon, pero manami ang amun tanum tungod bastante ang tubig,” said Verde in local dialect during an interview.
(We were able to plant despite the dry season and the weather came in our favor as there were only a few rats due to heat, and our produce was of good quality because of a sufficient water supply.)
She also cited a good harvest for rice, corn, vegetables, and other high-value crops supported by the irrigation water from the said project.
The small diversion dam, according to Verde, was constructed way back in the early 90s but with limited coverage just to help a few farmers surrounding the rainfed area to have the source of water during summer months.
It was in September last year when the project got rehabilitated, serving about 30 hectares and supporting locals who are into vegetable farming all year round.
Verde, who chairs the Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Hamtic, said that the rehabilitation of SDDP responds to their need to have a sustainable and enough supply of water to maximize the productivity of their farms.
Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Council (PAFC) Chair Arnold Balangao also said that aside from the SDDP project in Hamtic, another group of farmers in Abiera, Sebaste Antique also received a similar project likewise completed in October 2023.
The project in Sebaste covers about 15 hectares of farmland managed by the Aguila Sebaste Farmers Association.
Both projects are operational and were documented by the Department of Agriculture during the participatory monitoring and mapping of DA programs in March 2024.
Balangao expressed his gratitude to the government for giving due attention to the small farmers, especially in far-flung areas where government assistance is most needed.
On the other hand, Punong Barangay Roy F. Lunasco expressed his appreciation for all the projects the people in the barangay received from the government, particularly the concreting of the road from the Poblacion to the portion of Barangay Masanag, which paved the way for easy transport of farm products to the market as well as in bringing in goods and services for them. (AGP/PSM/PIA Antique)
