P158-M infra projects in Caraga seen to propel growth on agri

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 31 -- The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) in Caraga Region in partnership with local government units recently breaks ground with two infrastructure projects totaling Php158 million.

These are the construction of the Php50 Million Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in Barangay Poblacion, Rosario, Agusan del Sur and the construction of the 3.62-kilometer Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in Barangay R.E. Ecleo, San Jose, Province of Dinagat Islands amounting to Php108 million.

The construction of 4.76-km Main Canal with structures of the Limbatangan CIS in Rosario has a length of 4,961 meters with 23 units of canal structures to serve 264 hectares of rice area in Barangays Libuac, Poblacion and Tagbayan.

The said project is seen to increase rice production from 3 metric tons to 4 metric tons per hectare for conventional rice farming and 3 metric tons to 3.6 metric tons per hectare for natural farming. In addition, a total of 1,623 households or 8,226 individuals would benefit from the project after its completion.

“We thank the government for giving us this project. I believe that this intervention would enable us to expand our production area,” said Jimmy Magbanua, Vice Chairperson of Limbatangan Farmers Irrigators’ Association.

On the other hand, the construction of R. Ecleo–Upper Laguna FMR will benefit 1,571 farming and fishing households in San Jose, Dinagat Island and would allow better access to and from the agricultural production areas, public market and processing centers, and government social service centers.

The FMR traverses the barangays of Ma-atas and Sta. Rita and connects to Brgy. Laguna where it ends at Sitio Upper Laguna. It will link to the national road where the proposed cassava buying station and processing center would be located. 

Both groundbreaking activities were followed by a pre-construction conference participated by the stakeholders of the project such as farmers, barangay officials, and the Barangay Implementing Team (BIT), municipal implementing units, PRDP regional counterparts and the contractor themselves. Purpose of which is to discuss the different aspects of the project and the role of each stakeholder that would ensure the smooth and proper implementation of the project.

“We’re briefing the stakeholders to empower and capacitate them in the community to become active and viable partners in the operation and maintenance of the project,” said Infrastructure Component Head Engr. Rene Morales.

DA-PRDP has been in partnership with the Local Government Units and private sector to provide key infrastructures and facilities to raise incomes, productivity, and competitiveness of the farmers’ and fisherfolk’s associations in targeted areas. (Fretcher Magatao, DA Caraga/PIA Caraga)

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