Hopeful of a progressive farming through the enhanced irrigation system and good irrigation development status, the National Irrigation Administration-Mountain Province (NIA-MP), encourages the province to participate in achieving the goal.
In an article published by C & A Landscape in 2023, it reiterated that irrigation plays a vital role in agriculture as it gives life to the crops. It continuously ensures food protection, helps agricultural crop growth, landscape maintenance, and reduces effect of calamities especially heavy rainfall on the field.
During the flag ceremony at the Provincial Capitol Bontoc, Mountain Province on June 5, Liza Jane Challikis, Provincial Head of NIA-MP Satellite Office shared updates regarding irrigable area in the province. She announced that the agricultural land area in the province is wide yet lacks water particularly, in Paracelis.
Challikis also mentioned that the province has recorded only 45% irrigation development. This percentage is actually the second lowest record ranked among other provinces in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
“This is a challenge for all of us [people in Bontoc] to participate [and bring contribution] to raise the irrigation development status of Mountain Province”, said Challikis in her speech.
Through the implementation of irrigation projects, NIA believes that the development status of the province may be increased.
The implemented projects include repair and restoration of communal irrigation systems, generation and rehabilitation of agricultural land, and Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) irrigation component.
According to Challikis, the potential irrigable area of the province as of December 2022 is about 30,000 hectares in which 13,000 hectares has already been developed. This means that there is still 17,000 hectares left to be developed.
NIA targeted 337 hectares to be rehabilitated through the said projects and 249 hectares that must be generated including 700 hectares to be restored.
In an interview, Challikis stated that the primary objective of the project is to assist farmers in their livelihood by providing good irrigation of their fields. Furthermore, she mentioned that NIA endeavors the food sufficiency trust of the country through enhanced irrigation. In addition, NIA sets to increase productivity of crops through the implementation of irrigation projects.
“Farmers and the whole community are welcome in the office to raise their concerns related to irrigation. With that, ma-aassist sila [through our projects] dahil si la rin naman ang mag-bebenepisyo”, stressed Challikis. By Rosalina Pesana
