Solar-powered irrigation to help Region 6 farmers this dry season

ILOILO CITY -- Nine solar powered irrigation systems (SPIS) are expected to be completed this first quarter of 2019, just in time when water is scarce as a result of the El Niño phenomenon.

In an interview Friday, Engr. Albert Barrogo, chief of the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED) of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 6 (DA-RFU6) said that the SPIS were funded from their 2018 budget but the construction went full swing in January this year.

“Out of the nine units, seven are intended for rice and two for corn. They are all about to be completed,” he said.
Barrogo said that the systems have well-established sources, or they get their water from major rivers such that they are expected to augment the water needs of farmers. “That’s the best support that our project can give,” he said.

Of the nine SPIS, two are intended for corn and are being established at the Villa Salomon in Patnongon and at Barangay Igcocolo in Guimbal, Iloilo.

The seven SPIS for rice are established at the Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (WESVIARC) in Jaro; Hinigiran, Negros Occidental; Sibalom, Antique; Pototan and Dingle, Iloilo; Jamindan, Capiz and Madalag, Aklan.

Each system is composed of one submersible pump and a solar panel.

“The system design for 10 horsepower (hp) submersible pump can deliver 102 cubic meter per hour. But we need to consider the efficiency, which is computed to 70 percent only, so it is considered that a 10 hp pump can give effective discharge of 71.4 cubic meters per hour of water,” he explained.

Each SPIS has an allocation of PHP6 million.

Based on the design, each submersible pump can irrigate a minimum of 10 hectares. If there are wider areas and it has sufficient water, then the number of pumps will just be increased, he added. (PNA)

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