The Department of Agriculture turned over the P5-M Solar Power Irrigation System to Barangay Tara Farm Family Association in Mabinay, Negros Oriental.
The solar irrigation is the first in the province and the second in Central Visayas and is expected to irrigate 21.3 hectares of rice field.
BATAFFA President Neil Owen Lubid thanked DA for the said project, as they can now plant rice in both wet and dry seasons.
He said water supply is the top problem rice farmers in the area and “we are known as the rice supplier of our municipality.”
BATAFFA Farm Manager Billy Bajandi said the facility will encourage them to work harder.
Mabinay Mayor Joeterry Uy is hopeful that more facilities like the SPIS shall be offered for the other barangays of Mabinay as their town is an agricultural area.
DA Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer Sarah Perocho encouraged rice farmers to continue farming for them to produce more food.
Perocho assured that DA will support them technically and provide their agricultural needs to boost farm production.*