300 SoCot farmers to benefit from P14-M irrigation projects

GENERAL SANTOS CITY--At least 300 farmers in South Cotabato province stand to benefit from two small-scale irrigation projects that are being implemented by the provincial government.

Justina Navarrete, chief of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), said Wednesday the construction of the P14-million irrigation facilities are ongoing in two farming villages in Surallah and Lake Sebu towns.

Navarrete expects the completion of the initial project in Sitio Liwanay, Barangay Naci in Surallah next month.

The construction of the irrigation facility, which costs around P9 million, started in January, she said.      

Navarrete said the project, which will benefit some 150 farmers, was proposed last year by the Naci Small Water Irrigation System Association.

The official said they are targeting the completion of the Lake Sebu irrigation project by December. The facility, which costs around P5 million, is being built in Purok Malipayon of Barangay Lake Lahit and will benefit some 150 rice farmers.

Navarrete said they are currently working on the construction of similar irrigation facilities and other support projects in other remote farming communities in the province.

"Our assessment team has been visiting some of far-flung barangays to determine the needs of our farmers and the possible interventions from the provincial government," she said.

Aside from irrigation projects, she said they are conducting validation for the construction of farm-to-market roads and the provision of portable collapsible dryer cases and hermetic storage cocoon facilities.

She said the initial target beneficiaries are Sitio Kiantay of Barangay Upper Sepaka in Surallah and Barangay Halilan in Lake Sebu. (HST/PNA)