The total irrigated area in Negros Occidental has increased by almost 13 percent from 2001 to 2006 after the implementation of 57 irrigation projects and installation of 426 pump set during the period, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist said in a report released by the Capitol.

In the last five years, the total irrigated area went up from 42,000 hectares to 47,400 hectares or an increase of 12.85 percent. OPA said that from 2001 to 2006, more than P85 million of provincial and national funds were spent to open 6,829 hectares in Negros Occidental to irrigation while P34 million worth of irrigation projects are also ongoing.

The 57 projects implemented include the Sipalay Communal Irrigation Project, Spur Irrigation Project, Alegria Irrigation Project, Magallon Cadre Irrigation Project Phase VII and the Tamsik Small Water Impounding Project.

The P5.08-million Tamsik Small Water Impounding Project in Brgy. Malvar, Pontevedra, which services 80 hectares of farmlands and benefits 45 farmers of the Malvar Irrigators Association, was turned over by Gov. Joseph Marañon and former Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban in December 2005.

Panganiban then said the project is a step towards the right direction to achieve rice self-sufficiency in Negros Occidental.

In November 2006, Marañon also turned over the P6.5 million irrigation project at Spur 2 in Brgy. Minapasuk, Calatrava.

A total of P4.5 million in irrigation projects are also serving 840 hectares of rice lands in hinterland areas of Divina Colonia and Himogaan in Sagay, Marcelo and Lower Icogan in Calatrava, OPA records show.*NLG

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