DA promotes solar-powered irrigation system

The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) agribusiness and marketing assistance service (DA-AMAS) will be promoting its latest agribusiness investment, promotion and market development programs at this year’s Agrilink, slated in October.

“Our core programs and current projects align with the department’s advocacy of sustainable agricultural growth and market linkages and increasing our small farmers’ and fisherfolks’ income by providing access to financing and strengthening their resilience to climate and disaster risk,” said DA-AMAS director Christopher Morales.

Among these projects is the development of a solar-powered irrigation system that was established in North Cotabato, designed to irrigate lands as wide as 100 to 150 hectares and pump 1,000 gallons of water during hot days.

This year, 143 of this irrigation system will be installed nationwide under the DA’s national rice and corn programs.

DA-AMAS is also involved in the department’s national color-coded agriculture guide map, which serves as an agricultural landscape tool that will guide food producers on the natural suitability of 20 economically important crops.

NACCAG will help government agencies make a sound and informed policies in terms of agricultural investments.

DA-AMAS is also involved in the “Magsasaka Mekaniko” program, which aims to establish competency among farmers and rural laborers by helping them become certified farm mechanics capable of providing timely repair, troubleshooting and maintenance of farm machineries.

A similar livelihood program, “F/B Pagbabago”] will be provided to fishermen and their families. The program will provide safe and durable crafts and fishing paraphernalia, of which 250,000 fishing boats will be distributed to 500,000 families within five years.

In terms of market assistance for farmers, fisherfolk and local consumers, DAAMAS recently set up a venue where they can sell their produce at farmgate prices.

Together with the Bureau of Plant Industry, they built the first TienDA farmers and fisherfolk’s outlet in Manila last year. This initiative also seeks to eliminate layers of middlemen and allow food producers to earn fairly from their hard labor.

Last year, 11 TienDA stores opened, generating P7.04 million in total sales and benefitting 480 groups. It has also forged partnerships with the Ayala malls.

DA-AMAS also works closely with its allied agencies such as Bureau of Animal Industry, National Dairy Authority, National Meat Inspection Service and Philippine Carabao Center in implementing its strategic directions for the livestock and poultry sectors.

Agrilink will be held on Oct. 4 to 6 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.