Solar irrigation boosts Eastern Visayas farmers’ El Niño resilience

TACLOBAN CITY — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is expanding solar-powered irrigation and other projects in Eastern Visayas to help farmers maintain agricultural production amid the threat of El Niño and prolonged dry conditions.

Among these is the Guintigui-an Solar Pump Irrigation Project (SPIP), which was turned over to 87 farmers in Barangay Guintigui-an, Ormoc City, Leyte, on Friday, Oct. 9. The project provides a year-round water supply to 70 hectares of agricultural land.

The project uses solar energy to operate five 15-horsepower submersible pumps connected to a network of pipes and a farm-level irrigation system. This reduces farmers’ dependence on fuel-powered pumps and helps lower irrigation costs.

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READ: Candon mulls calamity state due to El Niño; 5,000 rice farmers at risk 

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NIA Regional Office Regional Manager Jaime de Jesus said the project gives farmers an opportunity to sustain agricultural production despite the challenges posed by climate change and El Niño.

“This is not merely the turnover of an irrigation facility. It is the turnover of new hope for our farmers, hope that the water supply for their farms will become more reliable and that agricultural production will continue,” de Jesus said in his message during the turnover ceremony.

He said the project demonstrates how solar energy, which farmers may otherwise associate with extreme heat, can be harnessed to operate irrigation facilities and help address water shortages.

The facility is expected to help the Guintigui-an Solar Pump Irrigators Association improve farm productivity, protect livelihoods and contribute to food security in Ormoc City.

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In a separate initiative, NIA’s Eastern-Western Samar Irrigation Management Office (EWSIMO), in partnership with the Catbalogan City Agriculture Office, is exploring potential water sources to support irrigation development and increase agricultural production in Catbalogan City.

On Sept. 30, NIA personnel conducted georesistivity testing in Sitio Cabungaan, Barangay Totoringon, to assess the area’s groundwater potential. The site has been identified as a promising location for vegetable and root crop production.

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Barangay Albate has also been identified as a potential site for a proposed Communal Irrigation Project that could serve an estimated 20 to 30 hectares of lowland rice fields. The proposed facility could support rice cultivation and the production of high-value commercial crops.

Meanwhile, the Cabacungan Solar Powered Irrigation Project in Barangay Cabacungan, Calbayog City, Samar, has undergone its final test run as authorities prepare the facility for full operation and eventual turnover to its intended beneficiaries.

The test run was attended by NIA-EWSIMO personnel, members of the Cabacungan United Farmers Irrigators Association Inc., Department of Agriculture technicians, barangay officials and project contractors, who assessed the facility’s operational readiness.

The project is designed to provide irrigation to 24 farmer-beneficiaries cultivating approximately 12 hectares of agricultural land.

READ: Candon City gives diesel subsidy to rice farmers amid El Niño threat 

Once fully operational, the facility is expected to provide a more dependable water source for farming, particularly during periods of drought and irregular rainfall.

The three initiatives highlight efforts to strengthen agricultural resilience in Eastern Visayas by developing irrigation facilities that use renewable energy, identifying additional groundwater sources and expanding access to water for crop production.

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With prolonged dry conditions threatening farms and rural livelihoods, reliable irrigation is considered an important measure to help farmers maintain production, reduce vulnerability to weather disturbances and sustain the region’s food supply. /mcm