Agri 10 turns over P26-M worth of irrigation projects to Munai town.

 

MUNAI, LANAO DEL NORTE – As part of the continuing effort to modernize the agriculture sector in the region, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, officially handed over the certificate of turnover of the P26 million (M) worth of irrigation projects to Mayor Racma D. Andamama of Munai, Lanao del Norte (LDN), on March 30, 2023.

According to Dir. Collado, both the Dalama Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP) and Solar Powered Fertigation System (SPFS) are funded under the agency’s rice program and implemented by DA-10 to improve irrigation and support local agriculture in said municipality.

The P24.9-M construction of the Dalama SWIP is completed to irrigate the existing 40 hectares of rice production area and has a 30-hectare potential service area.

Meanwhile, the P1.14-M SPIS in Brgy. Matampay is also open to benefit members of the Matampay Munai Alliance Farmers’ Association (MMAFA) and to serve about 8 hectares of existing rice lands.

Dir. Collado added that with this [project], the cropping intensity and crop production will be improved, raising farmers’ income and helping the Department achieve its goals of rice sufficiency and poverty eradication.

Mayor Andamama expressed her gratitude to DA for choosing Munai as one of the recipients of the irrigation projects of DA-RFO 10.

“This SWIP and SPFS project has brought tangible results that will not only improve the lives of our people but also be a step towards sustainable development, and we, the local government unit (LGU), will take part in maintaining and ensuring its sustainability,” she said.

On the other hand, DA-10 Rice focal person Chona H. Nacalaban encouraged the farmers to plant high-yielding varieties of rice seed, for it has a difference of 1.5 metric tons per hectare in crop productivity.

She added that having a fully irrigated area will surely boost farmers’ productivity, and they can now harvest five times within a two-year period.

Furthermore, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) partially stocked the area with 10,000 tilapia fingerlings as part of its 100,000 total allocations.

Present in the ceremony were officials from DA-10, LDN Provincial Operations Center Chief Engr. Abdulharis P. Paporo, Programs and Projects Management section chief Engineer III Romil G. Española and Standard Regulation and Enforcement section chief Engineer III Alden C. Tapio of Regional Agricultural Engineering Division, and other staff from DA, together with Vice-Mayor Abdulazis Batingolo and other LGU staff of Munai, LDN, and Brigadier General Rey B. Alemania, commander of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry “Magbalantay” Brigade and company. # (RDMElloren)