Duterte OKs Israel loan for irrigation projects

President Duterte has given the green light for the initial negotiations between the Philippines and a private Israel firm on the financing of government irrigation projects.

The LR Group of Israel subsidiary Innovative Agro Industry has offered to build 6,200 units of solar-powered irrigation systems in the country worth P44 billion.

“The President issued the directive following his talks with Israel Ambassador Rafael Harpaz last week who briefed him on the interest of several Israel agricultural companies to support the development of Philippine farming,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said.

The firm’s 10-year loan offer could irrigate 500,000 hectares of rice and high value crops farms over the next three years.

When finalized, the offer will be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority for review and endorsement to the President.

“When completed, the SPIS covering 500,000 hectares could increase Philippine rice production by four million metric tons of paddy rice or 2.6 million MT of milled rice,” Piñol said.

“That additional production would be enough to cover for the national shortfall which is supplied by imported rice from Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and other countries,” he added.

Innovative Agro Industry was among the Israeli agriculture firms that met with DA to explore possible business opportunities for bilateral cooperation during a recent forum hosted by the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute and the Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

The Philippines is looking at Israel for the development of various technological advancement in the local agriculture sector to improve the country’s farm production.

Piñol earlier said the Philippines would be needing technology and advice on areas of improving solar-power irrigation system, drone technology for crop protection, dairy farming, aquaculture and fish farming, and greenhouse technology.