The City Agriculturist Office here plans to set up at least a thousand rainwater collection systems to help farmers during the dry season.

“Each rainwater catchment can catch about 200 cubic meters of rainwater, which help prevent flooding of river channels,” Assistant City Agriculturist Edgardo Haspe said Wednesday.

“This can be a source of water for farmlands during the dry season,” Haspe added, noting that a network of rainwater catchments can also help mitigate flooding during the rainy season.

Haspe said the plan to add more collection systems complements the 150 catchments currently installed in Marilog District here.

In addition, the official said rainwater collection systems placed in strategic areas can also serve as fishponds to cultivate tilapia and catfish.

“At least 32 percent of the established rainwater catchments by the city have tilapia and catfish fingerlings. The fingerlings are free and shouldered by the government,” he said.

Currently, the city’s agricultural engineers are validating possible land areas to determine if these are viable for the establishment of rainwater catchments. (PNA)