In pursuance of solar-powered irrigation, the Department of Agriculture (DA) believes that diversifying irrigation other than rice use would increase the take-home pay of farmers.

During a press briefing with the delegates of the DA, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Assistant Secretary and DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa stated that the agriculture sector has been “very aggressive” in pushing better irrigation systems to increase rice production, as well as other high-value crops.

“If farmers can better manage irrigation, [they could also] diversify irrigation on crops other than rice to boost their take-home income,” he said on Wednesday, Mar. 13.

Recently, crops valued at around P1.3 billion have been damaged due to the ongoing El Niño phenomenon, heavily affecting production in Western Visayas, Zamboanga, Ilocos, and the Mindoro provinces.

Around 14,414 hectares or 1.5 percent of the total rice area was ruined, according to the DA.

To offset the prolonged dry spell, the agriculture sector has been actively pursuing the Philippine Solar Irrigation Project (PSIP).

“Under the General Appropriations Act [GAA], we have P250 million for this year,” he reiterated. “And then we have submitted this to the National Economic and Development Authority [NEDA] for deliberation of the Investment Coordination Committee [ICC] for the P17 billion PSIP.”

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. instructed that the next National Expenditure Program (NEP) should devote P50 billion to the solar irrigation project.

“We’re exploring other options, right now we’re requesting the Department of Budget and Management [DBM] an additional P12 billion for PSIP,” de Mesa added.

When asked about the damages that could be saved from renewable irrigation, DA spox stated that saving accrual for farmers would be around P12,000 to P15,000 per hectare if diesel use is minimized.

However, former DA undersecretary for policy planning and research Fermin Adriano pointed out that solar is an intermittent energy source, stating that “not every [farm] area will be able to operate solar power and will still require water pumps and machinery.

De Mesa explained that despite the periodically sourced power, the DA Chief is actively looking at hybrid yields to boost rice production amid the dry spell.

Furthermore, former agriculture officials discussed the current proactive measures that could mitigate the effects of El Niño would improve the local supply of basic commodities, enhance farmer productivity, and possibly lower inflation rates.

Last month, the Marcos administration announced that they are working on expanding the PSIP to water around 180,000 hectares of rice farms in the country.