The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas has turned over various support projects amounting to P5,080,000.00 to a farmers’ group in Iloilo province.
In a press report, DA-6 said that members of the Pangi Small Water Irrigation System Association (SWISA) of San Dioniso, Iloilo received diversion dam project, rice thresher, rice reaper, and five granular applicators in a turnover program held on March 30.
DA 6 Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (DA-RAED) chief Engr. Jose Albert Barrogo said these irrigation and mechanization support projects are intended to expand the irrigated rice production areas, increase farmers’ yield, and enhance cropping intensity in the municipality.
The diversion dam project amounting to P4.5 million was constructed as a supplementary source for irrigation of 27-hectare rainfed areas in Brgy. Pangi. This was funded under the DA Rice Program, the pier-type dam is seven meters wide and 10 meters long.
On the other hand, the P500,000.00 worth of farm machinery provided to the association seeks to hasten the rice production and harvesting activities of the SWISA members.
The mechanical reaper can harvest at least 2.5 hectares per day with 85 percent minimum field efficiency while the open-cylinder-type rice thresher has two tons per hour output capacity.
Aside from broadcasting seeds evenly, the knap-sack type and gasoline-powered granular applicator can also be used as fertilizer and pesticide-sprayer.
“Daku guid ang mabulig sang dam para sa pagpatubig sang amon nga talamnan. Masolusyonan naman ang problema sa manug-garab kay may ginhatag man nga makinarya sa amon nga asosasyon (The dam can help a lot in irrigating our ricefields. The mechanical reaper will also be a big help during harvest time),” said SWISA chairman Rey Bama of Pangi Farmers in the press report.DA RAFIS6/JSC/laf/PIA6 Iloilo
