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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider More funds for NIA to produce over 570k metric tons of palay

More funds for NIA to produce over 570k metric tons of palay

Published Oct 14, 2023 03:52 am

At A Glance

  • The additional P40 billion budget for the National Irrigation Administration can provide for rice fields to produce over 570,000 metric tons more palay or unhusked rice each year.<br>This investment in irrigation systems can return over P10 billion per year in over four years or less.<br>Some of the 2024 budget will also be used in addressing climate change and sustainability concerns, including solar-powered pump irrigation systems.

The additional P40 billion budget for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) can irrigate more rice fields that will produce over 570,000 metric tons more palay or unhusked rice each year.

NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen said that more investment in irrigation systems for next year can return over P10 billion per year in over four years or less

“And if computed conservatively at P19 per kilo, it can generate P10.83-billion per year, with a payback period of four years or less,” the NIA chief said in a statement.

Some of the 2024 budget, Guillen noted, will also be used in addressing climate change and sustainability concerns, including solar-powered pump irrigation systems.

“This significant sum of P40-billion will also play a crucial role in addressing both climate change and sustainability concerns. Solar-powered pump irrigation systems will revolutionize our nation's irrigation coverage, reaching previously inaccessible areas while mitigating the impending effects of climate patterns like El Niño,” he said.

“This is a wise investment on Philippine agriculture, the Filipino farmer and, ultimately, the average Filipino rice consumer,” he further said.

Earlier, the House Committee on Appropriations, led by Rep. Elizaldy Co, amended the proposed P5.768 trillion national budget for 2024 to realign over P194 billion to fight inflation and "invest in people and the country's future."

The small committee also amended the 2024 budgets for the Department of Agriculture to P20 billion for the rice subsidy program and P2 billion for the Philippine Coconut Authority for massive planting and replanting of seedlings.

The Congress also realigned the 2024 budgets for vaccines against the African swine fever to P1.5 billion and the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority to P1 billion for building fishery and post-harvest facilities in Palawan and Kalayaan Group of Islands.

The budget realignment for NIA will focus on agricultural productivity, which is among President Ferdinand R. Marcos’ top priorities, Guillen said.

“Ensuring long-term food security is a paramount objective for NIA. To address the growing demand for food in our country, it is imperative to accelerate the development of new irrigation areas. Our strategic approach involves the establishment of multi-purpose dams, small reservoirs, small-scale irrigation systems, and the promotion of solar-driven pump irrigation systems, which offer cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to traditional diesel- or electric-driven pumps,” he added.

Related Tags

rice fields National Irrigation Administration national expenditure program national budget IRRIGATION SYSTEM Eduardo Guillen
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