Farmers decry delay in completion of irrigation projects
RICE farmers in eastern Pangasinan say they are not able to maximize their production because of continued delays in the completion of irrigation projects in the area.
Oftociano ‘Anong’ Manalo, Pangasinan Irrigators Association president, said farmers in eastern part of the province can earn more and avoid losses if the construction of the Agno River Irrigation Extension Projects on the left wing of the Agno River in Sta. Maria, Natividad, San Nicolas, San Quintin and Rosales, Sto Tomas, San Manuel in Tarlac and Cuyapo in Nueva Ecija, can be completed this year.
He said farmers are harvesting 120 to 130 cavans of palay in spite of constant breakdown of the the brush dam in Sta. Maria town.
Farmers, he said, find themselves spending more by installing water pumps to prevent the farms from drying because of constant absence of irrigation water.
He is hopeful that with the release of ₱3.6 billion for the Agno River Irrigation Extension Projects, the planned construction will be completed soon to divert water for irrigation and close the brush dams.
He said every time there is a high demand for electricity, the San Roque Power Corp. has to generate more power, resulting in the collapse of the brush dam because of the huge volume of water.
Manalo said each time the brush dam collapses, 3,000 hectares of farmlands are immediately affected. (Nora Dominguez)
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