523 BENGUET FARMERS BENEFIT COMPLETED IRRIGATION PROJECTS

September 29, 2024 Provincial

Sustaining food security

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet Production of rice , temperate vegetables and high value crops are expected to increase in the province following the turnover of 15 irrigation projects to various Irrigators’ Associations (IA). It will benefit some 523 farmers-irrigators who belong to different 15 irrigators associations from Atok, Bakun, Kabayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, Mankayan, Tuba, and Tublay National Irrigation Administration-Cordillera Regional Manager Engr. Benito Espique, Jr. and Godofredo Velaque (NIA Benguet), and Benguet Provincial Governor Melchor Diclas led the symbolic mass turnover of the projects held last Tuesday (Sept. 24) at the Benguet Sports Complex Gymnasium here.

These projects worth almost P50-Million under the Balikatan Sagip Patubig Program (BSPP) jointly undertaken jointly by NIA and local government units (LGUs) with the Irrigators’ Associations. NIA-CAR allocated P38.04 million while P7.39 million as LGU’s counterpart. More than 250 hectares with 538 farmers in eight municipalities of the province are served by these irrigation systems which were implemented in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, according to NIA CAR release.

Primo Agatep/ABN