Seed subsidy to help farmers in SouthCot during irrigation rehab
Based on their assessment, the official said around 9,000 hectares of palay farmlands in South Cotabato and 2,000 in Sultan Kudarat will be affected by the scheduled repairs set by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for dams 1 and 2 of the Allah River Irrigation System.[]
The repair works will include the linings and distribution canals in the upper valley area towns of Surallah, Sto. Niño, Banga and Norala in South Cotabato as well as Bagumbayan and Isulan in Sultan Kudarat.
NIA originally scheduled the repairs for four months but it later decided to complete them in three months as requested by local government officials and farmers in the affected areas.
The funding for the repair and rehabilitation of the irrigation facility, which was the first since it was opened in 1972, was part of the P427.3 million allocated by NIA for the area based on its 2012 annual investment plan.
Aside from the seed subsidy scheme, Legaste said they have coordinated with various seed companies for possible linkages with the irrigators’ associations within the affected areas.
He said that aside from corn, the local government is also promoting the planting of high-value vegetables in areas that were found suitable for them.
Legaste said some 5,000 hectares were found suitable for corn production while 2,000 hectares appeared viable for the planting of high-value vegetables.[]
“We’ve gathered several corn seed companies for the targeting and identification of areas where they can come in,” he said. (Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)
