The Malatgao River Irrigation System (RIS) in Narra town is almost completed and is set to be turned over to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in November to benefit some 3,000 farmers from Narra and Aborlan.
NISRIP Project manager Engr. Silvino Navarro said in an interview Thursday the irrigation project is “98 percent” completed.
“Konti nalang ang aayusin dito, lahat na ‘yan ay kasama na sa 98 percent. Access road at kanal nalang ang aayusin. More or less 3,000 farmers ng dalawang munisipyo ay makikinabang dito sa project. Napakalaking tulong ng irrigation sa farming lalo na ‘yong mga munisipyo na ito ay malalapad ang palayan,” he said.
Navarro said the irrigation project is projected to increase the covered areas’ rice production from 80 Cavan per hectares to 100 to 120 Cavan per hectares.
“Malaking tulong ito para marehabilitate natin ang mga palayan. We are targeting up to 100 to 120 per hectares ang pagtaas ng production,” he said.
The irrigation is a project of the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP) and funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through loan requested by NIA amounting to P189 million.
Navarro added that aside from the irrigation, they will also be providing assistance to the farmers including machinery and training.
“It is a project of NISRIP and JICA. Kasama dito sa binibigay natin sa mga farmers ay ang warehouse, office, agricultural machinery, and ‘yong mga training,” he said,
The construction work of the irrigation took around three years.
