Bulacan town tries out solar irrigation project

CITY OF MALOLOS –– Rice farmers in a Bulacan town would soon be getting irrigation water pumped by a solar-powered distribution system.

Three irrigation units would be installed by the end of the year on a nine-hectare land to serve Pinagtulayan village farms in Norzagaray town.

This would eliminate the need for irrigation devices fueled by diesel or conventional electricity, said Gloria Carillo, Bulacan agriculture officer this week.

Norzagaray is piloting the agency’s Solar-powered Irrigation System for Farming Communities Enhanced Project also called SOLution.

The project was launched on Oct. 10 and is being undertaken with the help of private firm Grundfos Pumps Philippines and the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation Inc.

“Most farmers spend on gasoline to operate their irrigation systems. Their expenses will drop once this solar-powered system is set-up because you don’t need to pay for solar energy. The devices will also reduce carbon emissions that affect the climate,” said Gilbert Luna, a Grundfos Pumps representative, who spoke at the launching program.

Teofilo Bartolome, one of the farmers benefiting from the project, said removing the high cost of irrigation would help his farming community improve productivity./lzb