P44-Billion Fund for Solar Power Irrigation Systems Across the Philippines Allocated by Pres. Duterte Starts Operation
The administration of Pres. Rody Duterte fulfilled one of his campaign promise to provide food for the poor as the administration gives go signal for the use of the P44-Billion Fund intended for the Department of Agriculture's program dubbed "Solar Power Irrigation System" or SPIS initiated by Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol.
In a report presented by the Department of Agriculture to Pres. Rody Duterte, in order to attain rice self-sufficiency by 2020, a total of 500,000 hectares of farmlands across the country need to be supplied with water.
The estimate of the DA was based on the computation presented by Agriculture Manny Piñol to Pres. Duterte, which served as a basis for the establishment of Solar Power Irrigation Systems (SPIS) in strategic areas within the Philippines.
The DA Secretary explained "A rice field producing four metric tons per year without effective irrigation can produce six metric tons two times a year when consistent water supply is maintained. With that estimate, we’ll be able to yield an additional eight metric tons per hectare every year from the additional 500,000 hectare irrigated farmland, which is equivalent to four million metric tons. This is enough to feed our people, even with post-harvest losses considered,” Piñol explained.
The Agriculture Secretary who is also a veteran politician and farmer noted that "We need to think outside the box if we want to achieve rice self-sufficiency," the Agriculture Secretary stressed during the turnover of the first fully functional SPIS in Brgy. New Janiuay, M'lang, North Cotabato on August 20, 2018.
Sec. Manny also added further that the Philippines has 3.9 million (M) hectares of land for farming, but only 1.2 Million hectares has effective irrigation. This leaves us with 2.7 hectares of unirrigated farmlands. The Secretary also noted "Remember that food grows where water flows, and we need good and efficient irrigation systems if we want to attain our rice self-sufficiency target," he added.
Watch the Presentation of the Department of Agriculture:
Source: PNA
In a report presented by the Department of Agriculture to Pres. Rody Duterte, in order to attain rice self-sufficiency by 2020, a total of 500,000 hectares of farmlands across the country need to be supplied with water.
The estimate of the DA was based on the computation presented by Agriculture Manny Piñol to Pres. Duterte, which served as a basis for the establishment of Solar Power Irrigation Systems (SPIS) in strategic areas within the Philippines.
The DA Secretary explained "A rice field producing four metric tons per year without effective irrigation can produce six metric tons two times a year when consistent water supply is maintained. With that estimate, we’ll be able to yield an additional eight metric tons per hectare every year from the additional 500,000 hectare irrigated farmland, which is equivalent to four million metric tons. This is enough to feed our people, even with post-harvest losses considered,” Piñol explained.
The Agriculture Secretary who is also a veteran politician and farmer noted that "We need to think outside the box if we want to achieve rice self-sufficiency," the Agriculture Secretary stressed during the turnover of the first fully functional SPIS in Brgy. New Janiuay, M'lang, North Cotabato on August 20, 2018.
Sec. Manny also added further that the Philippines has 3.9 million (M) hectares of land for farming, but only 1.2 Million hectares has effective irrigation. This leaves us with 2.7 hectares of unirrigated farmlands. The Secretary also noted "Remember that food grows where water flows, and we need good and efficient irrigation systems if we want to attain our rice self-sufficiency target," he added.
Watch the Presentation of the Department of Agriculture:
Source: PNA
P44-Billion Fund for Solar Power Irrigation Systems Across the Philippines Allocated by Pres. Duterte Starts Operation
Reviewed by Phil Newsome
on
August 23, 2018
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Reviewed by Phil Newsome
on
August 23, 2018
Rating:
