The National Irrigation Administration in Northern Mindanao (NIA-10) has adopted “green technology” in four areas of the region to help sustain farmers’ productivity.

In an interview Thursday, NIA-10 Manager Elpidio Lucernas Jr. said solar pumps have been installed this year in the towns of Balingasag and Alubijid, both in Misamis Oriental; Lala town in Lanao del Norte; and Barangay Pagalungan in this city.

“This is a big boost for rice farmers in the four areas as they can save electricity bills at least half of their previous billing statement from their respective electric provider,” he said.

Lucernas manages the Irrigation Management Office of the four provinces in Region 10, except Bukidnon.

He said the towns of Balingasag and Maranding in Lanao del Norte and Tangub City in Misamis Occidental, will have an additional PHP20 million worth of irrigation projects set for implementation before the end of this year.

Meanwhile, Lucernas said NIA-10 also looks forward to further improving its service area in Misamis Oriental, which currently has 18.3 percent irrigated areas. This figure, he said, was not enough to attain rice sufficiency to provide cheaper rice prices.

According to Lucernas, the rate barely translates to irrigating 2,114 hectares of farmland out of the 5,000-hectare service area and only yielding 3,910 kilograms per hectare.

“The land area is not enough to have rice sufficiency in Misamis Oriental because we have not yet attained our service area target since we still are in the process of irrigation development,” he explained.

NIA-10 is expediting its project implementation, which is now at 90 percent for cycle 2022. (PNA)