Davao del Sur irrigation to boost rice production

Rice production in Davao del Sur has been given a boost with the construction of a P10.58 million irrigation project.
The construction of a new communal irrigation system (CIS) in the town of Sulop is seen to increase the irrigated rice field from the present 23 hectares to 100 hectares once the irrigation becomes functional.
Further, this is projected to increase the harvest per cropping from 92 tons to 500 tons, hence increasing income of 94 farmers to over P95,000. 
The CIS is a joint project of the provincial government of Davao del Sur and the Department of Agriculture Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP).
Program director Lealyn A. Ramos said putting up irrigation systems is one of the priority projects of the program along with other infrastructures like road networks and postharvest facilities to improve farmers’ productivity and income.
“Rice production depends on water supply, no need to overemphasize the key role it (irrigation) plays in the attaining our goal to have sufficient rice production,” she said.
“Irrigation will also mitigate the impact on production when dry spells like the El Niño phenomenon occur,” she added. 
Meanwhile, Dir. Carlos Mendoza of the DA’s regional field unit 11 said that Davao del Sur is one of the major rice producing areas, thus the irrigation project will also help increase eicw production in region 11.
The construction of the irrigation system will include 3.14 kilometers main canal, 1.8 kilometers lateral canal, 25 units canal structures, terminal facilities and access road, and will cater to the ricefields in the poblacion area. [Sherwin B. Manual/DA-MRDP]
Under the rural infrastructure component of the MRDP, the project follows the 50:50 cost-sharing scheme where, in this project, the provincial government provides over P5 million while the program provides a similar amount.
As the program is demand-driven and more funds are yet to be accessed by the LGUs, Gov. Douglas Ra. Cagas in his previous statement encouraged other local chief executives to maximize the opportunity to double the provincial and municipal coffers for infrastructure by having a stake in the program.