DAR, NIA bat for
irrigation projects to boost veggie production in 3 Leyte towns
By Philippine Information
Agency (PIA 8)
May 24, 2013
SAN ISIDRO, Leyte – The
Department of Agrarian Reform and the National Irrigation
Administration in Eastern Visayas are eyeing the implementation of
irrigation projects in order to boost vegetable production in three
Leyte towns.
DAR Region 8 Director
Eliasem Castillo said the idea came as a result of the clamor of the
farmers in Barangay Daja Diot in this town for the construction of an
irrigation project in the area.
Director Castillo disclosed
that funding for this project will come from the Asian Development
Bank (ADB) thru the second phase of the Agrarian Reform Communities
Project (ARCP-2).
As NIA is preparing the
design, ARCP Deputy Project Manager Herman Ongkiko called on the
agency to beat the June 15 deadline for the project to be included in
the June 30 National Sub-Project Approval Committee (NSAC)
deliberation so it could be implemented the soonest possible time.
In answer, NIA Regional
Manager Romeo Quiza promised to give priority to this project.
Director Castillo disclosed
that at the moment the area is dependent only on rain resulting to a
very low harvest.
He stressed that the project
initially will accommodate the vegetable farms of the 90 agrarian
reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who currently fetch water from a distance.
According to Ms. Mathilde
Vergara, agricultural enterprise development coordinator, the ARBs
started their high-value crops production in 2010 in partnership with
the East-West Seed Company which adds to their income.
An irrigation system will be
constructed in the area especially because the vegetable production of
the Daja Integrated Primary Agribusiness Marketing Cooperative (DIPAMCO)
is a priority project of DAR under the Agrarian Reform Communities
Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS), Director
Castillo added.
He also disclosed that
similar project is being proposed for the towns of Calubian and
Villaba, also in the province of Leyte.