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Writer's pictureChristian Malnawa

Kalinga now enjoys 7 of 21 solar irrigation projects implemented in CAR


Tabuk City, Kalinga – A total of 21 solar irrigation projects were completed in the Cordillera Region last year.

 

Of these finished projects, the National Irrigation Administration-Cordillera reported that seven are located in Kalinga.

 

One of the notable irrigation projects is the Santor Rizal Solar Pump Irrigation Project, which opened up a new area of 72 hectares, directly benefiting 60 farmers.

 

In an earlier interview, the Department of Agrarian Reform-Kalinga mentioned that most of the recipient farmers are members of the Alimit-Santor Irrigators Association, one of the organizations being assisted by the agency.

 

This project, along with another one in Apayao, was funded with P30.87 million under DAR’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program—Irrigation Component.

 

As for other provinces, Abra now has nine new solar irrigation systems, two for Apayao, and one at the Upper Chico River Irrigation System—Mallig, Isabela area.


These projects along with the six irrigation facilities established in Kalinga were implemented through the ‘Establishment of Groundwater Pump Irrigation Project Solar Power-Driven Pump Irrigation Projects (EGPIP-Solar)’ by the National Irrigation Administration.

 

The total fund allocated for these facilities amounts to P106.9 million.

 

Solar-powered irrigation projects are pumping facilities driven by solar energy, consisting of a solar pumping controller and a pump.

 

The significant features of the irrigation scheme are that it is a cost-efficient and climate change-adaptive technology that can run without utilizing fuel. Also, it is unaffected by power interruptions, simple to operate, environmentally friendly, suited for isolated watersheds and areas supplied by rain, and requires minimal maintenance.

 

NIA-CAR Regional Manager Benito Espique, Jr., explained that such projects are usually implemented in ‘areas with a higher elevation than the source of water, or in areas where the nearest possible source of water is underground.’

 

Meanwhile, two of the irrigation projects funded in the same year are currently being implemented in 2024.

 

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