SARRAT, Ilocos Norte—Residents of CABAROAN agrarian reform community (ARC) heaved a sigh of relief after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently turned over 106 units of irrigation pumps that would irrigate 238 hectares of agricultural land and ensure a year-round supply of water to the community.
Governor Imee Marcos said the provision of these pump irrigation is very timely for the coming summer when water in the area runs very low. “Our residents here will be at peace, knowing that they have sufficient water for their crops during summer time,” she said shortly after the turnover ceremonies.
DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Felicidad Dumaguing said that 256 agrarian reform beneficiaries of CABAROAN ARC will benefit from the project. “This pump irrigation project will address the ARC’s problem of extreme dryness during summer, especially if there is an El Nino phenomenon where there is absence of rain that last for months,” she said.
Dumaguing said that based on DAR’s studies, the use of these irrigation pumps would increase farmers’ yield by 10 percent.
“This irrigation project is expected to boost the economic condition of the ARC,” Said Dumaguing.(pinky roque)