Irrigators’ associations in Camarines Norte expect at least a 90 percent increase in their income from the use of 11 water pump units recently provided by the National Irrigation Administration – Camarines Norte Irrigation Management Office (NIA-CNIMO), the agency said Friday.

NIA 5 (Bicol) spokesperson Cleofe Baraero said in a phone interview that six water pumps were given to the Farmers Irrigators Association of Guibasan, while five were turned over to Bical Matogdon Rivers Services (BIMARS), Inc. on Monday.

“The goal is to meet the irrigation needs of local farmers and restore water supply to farms that were not reached by the flow from the dam that serves the two systems,” she said.

Baraero added that with the water pumps, at least 40 hectares of farmland cultivated by 55 farmers will benefit from the initiative.

“Providing water pumps to farmers is an initiative of CNIMO, which forms part of the budget allocation for the Matogdon River Irrigation System (MRIS) and the Matogdon Extension Communal Irrigation System (CIS) to address water shortages in some areas,” she said.

Meanwhile, more than 600 members of various irrigators’ associations in Camarines Norte have gained emergency employment through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“The initiative highlights the continuing partnership between DOLE and NIA-CNIMO in delivering government services that create livelihood opportunities and support local communities,” Baraero said.

She said that through strengthened inter-agency collaboration, government programs are implemented more effectively and can reach a wider segment of the population.

BIMARS president Renato Acunin thanked NIA for the opportunity to have a better water supply for their rice fields.

“This water pump is very helpful for us, so we can grow our crops properly. Thank you very much, because it will help improve our standard of living,” he said. (PNA)