WB-funded irrigation project goes into service

MANILA, Philippines - A P39.52-million communal irrigation project funded under the World Bank supported Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) is now operational in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) recently inaugurated the Managok Communal Irrigation Subproject which would will allow rice farmers in Barangay Managok and neighboring communities to plant at least twice a year.

The irrigation system has two component dams built along the Balongkot Creek.

Construction started in July 2013 and was completed in August this year.

The majority of the funds for the project came from the World Bank-assisted MRDP, while the municipal government raised 10 percent of the total project  cost.

Around 210 farmer-members of the Managok Irrigator’s Association would benefit from the facility, which covers approximately 350 hectares of farmlands.

Alcala said the DA would send experts to the municipality to teach the farmers on productive agricultural technologies such as contour farming.

Alcala also directed the National Corn Program and the DA field office in Region 11 to deliver 100 bags of open pollinated corn varieties to the municipality so farmers could plant high-quality seeds.

Alcala, likewise, committed to allot four slots of scholarship – two each for agriculture and fishery courses – for graduating high school students of good academic standing, under DA’s ACEF Scholarship program.

Around 12 farmers would be sent for training on agriculture-related proficiencies at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The package of assistance were in addition to the production inputs worth P208,000 that Secretary Alcala distributed to the members of the Managok Irrigator’s association and other local farmers during the turnover of the facility. These included two of threshers, 50 bags of palay (unhusked rice) seeds, five heads of carabao and collapsible dyers.