Three expensive irrigation projects would increase the Cordillera Region's potential to produce food, according to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA)-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Projects totaling PHP4.25 billion are scheduled to be implemented between 2023 and 2027, increasing production and expanding the existing 113,539 hectares of irrigated land.
Irrigating farmers
In Ifugao province, the first project is the PHP1.493 billion Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation Project, which will irrigate 2,300 hectares and help 1,315 farmers.
In Apayao province, 1,178 hectares will be irrigated by the PHP850 million Marimay Small Reservoir Irrigation project, benefiting 608 farmers when it is finished in 2025.
Additionally, 1,211 will be irrigated by the PHP1.91 billion Lower Apayao River irrigation project, which will be finished in 2027 and assist 719 farmers.
Boosting irrigation
Apayao now has 12,569 irrigated land, or 37%, while Benguet is 64 percent irrigated, with 16,442 developed out of 33,910 potential irrigable acres out of 25,746 possible locations.
With 20,469 hectares of the 25,830 possible irrigable areas, Ifugao is 79 percent irrigated.
Of the 44,190 irrigable areas, 30487 hectares in Kalinga are 69 percent irrigated, while 12,823 hectares in Mountain Province are 43 percent irrigated. of the 30,600 possible locations.
With the three new projects, the northern towns are expected to experience a boost in their food production.
