Manila: National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Eduardo Guillen on Wednesday emphasized the need to expand solar pump irrigation projects to help mitigate the impact of rising oil prices due to the Middle East crisis on farmers who depend on diesel-powered pumps.
According to Philippines News Agency, Guillen highlighted the need to enhance the solar pump irrigation system as a medium-term solution during an interview on Bagong Pilipinas over PTV4. He noted that NIA has constructed nearly 3,000 solar pumps, covering approximately 30,000 hectares of farmland nationwide.
Guillen mentioned ongoing efforts to implement solar pump irrigation systems over the years. He pointed out significant projects in Camarines Sur, such as the Mataoroc-Sagrada-San Jose-Baliuag Agrarian Reform Cooperative (MASSBA) and the San Agustin San Ramon Agrarian Reform Farmers' Cooperative (SARFC) Solar Pump Irrigation Project, covering 1,200 and 600 hectares, respectively. Additional projects in Cabaruan, Isabela, and Leyte are expected to be completed this year.
Guillen explained that solar irrigation is enhanced by climate-smart technologies that improve water management and reduce costs through weather forecasting tools. These tools assist in dam operations and irrigation scheduling, offering a more efficient water management system.
He also described NIA's alternate wetting and drying technology, which saves around 30 percent on irrigation, as a form of carbon credit sequestration. This technology prevents rice field flooding, a common issue in traditional irrigation practices, thereby conserving water and improving farmer earnings.
Apart from solar pump projects, Guillen advocated for constructing more high dams to boost water supply for irrigation systems. He expressed that building high dams would provide a sustainable, long-term solution, targeting dams in 18 major river basins.
