The Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-11) turned over the Solar Powered Irrigation System (SPIS) to a farmers’ cooperative in Barangay Pagsabangan, Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

The SPIS is funded under the Rice Program of DA-11, with the Pagsabangan Farmers and Irrigators Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PAFIMCO) as its beneficiary, DA-11 Director Ricardo Oñate, Jr said.

The project costs about PHP5. 9 million.

“This project was already finished in August and now we formally turned over it to more than 100 members of PAFIMCO,” Oñate said.

Oñate said the SPIS project for Pagsabangan was the fifth in Davao Region; other SPIS projects are located in Kapalong and Asuncion in Davao del Norte, while two are installed in Montevista, Compostela Valley province.

“The sixth SPIS will be in New Corella, Davao del Norte,” he added.

Oñate also added that 2 corn programs funded under the SPIS will be installed in Davao Region Upland Agricultural Research Station (DARUARS) in Sitio Ilian, Marahan, in this city, and in Laak, Compostela Valley Province.

The SPIS project was introduced by former DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol as part of his 10-point priority agenda to uplift the status of rice farming in the country.

The project seeks to increase yield and enable farmers to plant and harvest at least twice a year. (PNA)