P7.5M solar pump irrigation project of NIA benefits farmers in Santa Marcela

Santa Marcela, Apayao – Since its completion in 2023, the Solar Pump Irrigation Project (SPIP) in Santa Marcela has been a tremendous help to local farmers, primarily by providing year-round abundant water supply to rice fields.

The project, funded by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program - Irrigation Component (CARP-IC), aims to increase agricultural productivity, promoting sustainable development in the municipality, according to NIA Public Relations Officer Harold Mangoba.

Located in Barangay Marcela, the facility serves 15 hectares, with over 22 individual farmer members from the Agrarian Reform community. It is supervised and managed by the SPIP Farmers Irrigators Association Inc. to ensure its functionality.

Mangoba explained that the project comprises major facilities, including solar pumps and accessories, a pump house with a perimeter fence, a concrete canal, canal structures, and other necessary facilities.

With this modernization and innovative development by the National Irrigation Authority, Santa Marcela town is assured of a continuous partnership towards holistic development in the agricultural sector.

Expressing their delight in this innovative technology, Mayor Evelyn Martinez and Vice-Mayor Rolly Guiang claimed that this solution would alleviate the burden on local farmers caused by rising prices of gasoline and diesel.

The solar-powered irrigation facility is designed to enable farmers to irrigate their farms without incurring costly fuel expenditures.