SANTA ANA, Cagayan — Santa Ana, Cagayan farmers may soon say goodbye to waiting for rain before planting rice, as two newly inaugurated solar-powered irrigation projects promise a more dependable water supply for their fields and the possibility of increased harvests.
Turned over to their respective Irrigators’ Associations on Nov. 6, the projects are located in Sitio Ugudan and Barangay Visitacion. Each facility is powered by 32 solar panels and can irrigate 15 hectares of farmland, directly benefiting 15 farmers per site.
For farmers in Sitio Ugudan, the project could mean a major turnaround. Denton A. Agra, treasurer of the Ugudan Sta. Maria Irrigators’ Association, said they previously managed to plant rice only once a year because their farms depended heavily on rainfall.
The farmers vowed to protect and properly maintain the facilities while ensuring fair water distribution among beneficiaries.
Santa Ana Mayor Nelson P. Robinion, through his representative Jovimar Castillo, assured continued cooperation between the municipal government and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to further support local farmers.
NIA-Visitacion Irrigation System head Rowila S. Macoco also called on the associations to safeguard the facilities and manage water equitably, especially amid the threat of El Niño.
NIA Region 2 regional manager Raymundo B. Apil emphasized “the projects form part of its continuing push for climate-resilient agriculture, reliable irrigation, and sustained food production.”
Beyond the installation of solar panels and pumps, the facilities are expected to give farmers greater control over their planting schedules, improve cropping opportunities, and strengthen their livelihoods against increasingly unpredictable weather conditions. — Artemio A. Dumlao