CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – The National Irrigation Administration-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (NIA-UPRIIS) has completed the construction of five solar pump irrigation projects to provide efficient, effective, and sustainable irrigation services to farmer-beneficiaries.
Engr. Rosalinda Bote, department manager of NIA-UPRIIS, said on Friday the newly-completed projects costing PHP58.32 million are located in Talavera town and the cities of Gapan and San Jose, all in this province; and in the towns of San Miguel and San Ildefonso, both in Bulacan province.
Bote said eight other solar pump irrigation projects are still being constructed and nearing completion, targeting the provision of service water for irrigation to almost 377 hectares of farmlands that could be seen to give benefits to 504 farmers under the service area of UPRIIS.
She added that the NIA-UPRIIS is promoting solar-power pumps in its service areas as part of the agency's thrust to foster proficiency and resiliency for proficient irrigation service through innovations and modernizations.
With the rising fuel prices, Bote said the benefit of using innovative solar pumps has a big impact on reducing the cost of inputs of farmers.
As of December 31, 2021, the NIA had already completed 333 solar-powered irrigation projects nationwide amounting to around PHP1.51 billion that can produce a total of 4,215.33 horsepower (hp) of energy.
These projects can irrigate 6,482.62 hectares of agricultural land, benefiting 8,467 farmers and their families. (PNA)
