Marcos eyeing solar-powered irrigation for farmers amid El Niño
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Saturday that the government is looking into building solar-powered water irrigation systems for farmers to alleviate the effects of the present El Niño.
Marcos made the statement in a speech during a rice harvest ceremony and the distribution of assistance in Candaba, Pampanga.
READ: El Niño feared stifling PH agri output in 2024
“Kaya, tintignan po naming ‘yun mga sistema na ginagawa, at palagay ko, susubukan natin ‘yung solar-powered irrigation,” Marcos Jr. said.
(We are looking at the systems that are being made, and I think we will try the solar-powered irrigation system.)
“Maglalagay po tayo ng solar, tapos ‘yun ang gagamitin na kuryente para sa mga bomba. At ‘yun naman, tinitignan naming ay makakatulong kaagad ito dahil ang iniimport natin siguro what, 3.5? Mga 3.5 million tons sa bawat taon,” he added.
(We will put solar-powered irrigation systems that will use sunlight to work. And we think that this will help because we import around 3.5 million tons annually.)
The President also said that crop yields will increase as the solar-powered irrigation system project is expected to increase irrigable land.
“Kung mabuo itong aming pinaplano ay lalaki ang ani natin dahil ‘yung irrigation area, 180,000 hectares more or less ang madadagdagan sa irrigable land at makakapag-third cropping ay mga 1.2 million tons, pag nabuo na natin,” Marcos added.
(If our plan goes through, crop yields will increase because around 180,000 hectares will be added to irrigable round, and there will be an added 1.2 million tons to third croppings.)
The Chief Executive added that through these steps, the country is aiming for the modernization of the country’s agriculture sector.
“Sa aming palagay, sa mga hakbang na ito, naniniwala naman kami makakamit natin hindi lamang ang pag-angat ng antas ng buhay ng mga magsasaka, kundi pati na rin ang modernisasyon ng sektor ng agrikultura,” he said.
(We think, through these steps, we believe that we can not only achieve a higher quality of life for farmers but also modernization in the agricultural sector.)
READ: Agri output up 0.7% in Q4 of 2023
