Lake Sebu farmers get irrigation projects
AGRICULTURE • 15:30 PM Thu Aug 22, 2019
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By:
Leidenep Malayo Yecla/DAR South Cotabato
Turnover program and the planting of trees by DAR, NIA officials and farmers. (DAR-South Cotabato)
LAKE SEBU, South Cotabato – Rice and corn farmers in the village of Ned here are expected to improve productivity with the turnover of three Small Irrigation Projects (SIPs).
This irrigation projects are the Kinubing SIP, New Tupi SIP and Tinugas SIP, built under Mindanao Sustainable Agrarian and Agriculture Development (MinSAAD) Project.
The turnover program was conducted last August 19, 2019 at Ned Settlement, Lake Sebu.
It was initiated by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the lead implementing agency.
More than 106 hectares of rice and corn field can be served with these SIPs and 61 farmers will benefit from it. The said projects cost P31 million.
Engr. Delsy Revellame, NIA-CARP IA project manager, encouraged the farmers to take care and love the project given them. She also asked them not to hesitate to seek help because the government is very willing to help them.
“Ayusin natin ang palakad at pagpatakbo ng ating sistema. Ating mga IA sana pangatawanan ninyo ang responsibilidad para mapanatili at mapakinabangan ng mga susunod na henerasyon ang proyekto. Kung ano ang obligasyon ninyo sa assosasyon, gawin ninyo. Wag kayo basta susuko, darating ang panahon na magiging asensado ang lugar ninyo,” Diosdado A. Rosales, NIA-12 regional manager.
Ms. Mary Jean M. Fuertes, president of LaLuKi CIA, Inc. expressed her gratitude for the project. “DAR provides land and continues to give projects to improve our farm,” she said.
“Sa inyo nga ginapakita sa amon nga bulig amo nga tinguhaon na kini na project na ginhatag ninyo sa amon ma develop kag ma sustain para sa iba pa na generation kag para ma improve amon nga panginabuhian,” Fuertes added.
Mr. Dennis A. Estrella, president of New Tupi CIA, Inc., was also grateful for the project. “Dako gid amon pasalamat. Kini nga susi indi gid ni basta-basta kay basi amo pa ini ang makapatapos sa pagpaskwela sa amon nga mga anak. Gina accept namon ang challenge kag responsibility. Kag halungan gid namo ning project,” he said.
Turnedover along with the three SIPs were the Coffee-Cacao Production, Processing and Marketing SP and Sitio Tinugas – Lawaan Farm to Market Road.
After the ribbon cutting, every stakeholder had planted a seedling near the water source to protect the watershed.
Beneficiaries were encouraged to continue this activity to sustain the project and as risk mitigating action against climate change. (Leidenep Malayo Yecla)