The farmers of Barangay Wawa Ibayo in Lumban, Laguna are the first recipients of a solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) project that demonstrates best-in-class irrigation technology from the Israeli agro-industrial firm LR Group in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Two SPIS models were awarded to the Barangay Agriculture and Fisheries Council during the ceremony led by Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Senate Chair for Agriculture Cynthia Villar, and Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz on October 28, 2019.
Secretary Dar said that Lumban is lucky to be the pilot site for the demonstration of the Israeli irrigation technology that is known for its efficiency.
“Dito kauna-unahang ipapakita itong [Israeli-made] SPIS na mas mura, mas simple, at cost-effective. It can also be installed fast,” Dar said.
The P1.2 million-worth SPIS model can irrigate eight hectares, while the other model worth P5.8 million can cover 32 hectares. They are sustainable and diesel-free irrigation and fertilization (fertigation) systems that can irrigate rice and other high-value crops all year round.
The technology also includes a satellite-based system that allows remote and real-time monitoring of water and vegetation levels that enables precision agriculture and leads to higher crop yields. In addition, the SPIS can be installed in less than three days, because of its pre-fabricated design.
Senator Villar underscored that Filipino farmers need to mechanize to become more competitive.
“Kailangan mag-aral kayong mag-mechanize, mag-operate, at mag-maintain ng machine,” Villar said as she shared about the mechanization component of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.
As the servant-leader in agriculture, Dar said that legislative support is important and higher budget and investment for the agriculture and fisheries sector will be needed to deliver more projects and new technologies to the farmers and fisherfolk.
“We hope that we can have more (planting) cycles for rice in the Philippines,” Ambassador Harpaz expressed his support to Filipino farmers. He also wished for the continued good relations of the Philippines and Israel, which dates back to the time President Manuel Quezon welcomed Jewish refugees who escaped from the Nazis. ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-AFID)
