Marcos inaugurates pump irrigation system to boost rice production and farmers' income in Ifugao

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of the Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation System (ALPIS) in Ifugao, a project expected to expand irrigation coverage, increase rice production, and improve farmers’ incomes in the municipality.

In a statement on Monday, the Presidential Communications Office said the project aims to address the need for a reliable water supply for agricultural lands, particularly amid severe drought conditions caused by El Niño.

Before the project, irrigation services covered only 275 hectares in Alfonso Lista, limiting the area available for rice cultivation. With the full operation of ALPIS, the irrigated area is expected to expand to 2,300 hectares.

PCO said rice production is projected to increase from 900 metric tons to 26,000 metric tons, while the combined net income of farmers is expected to rise from ₱16 million to ₱159 million.

It added the irrigation system is also expected to enable farmers to cultivate their lands twice a year, compared with the previous single cropping season.

During the inauguration, Marcos underscored the importance of expanding access to reliable irrigation and highlighted the continued development of solar-powered irrigation systems to help meet the agricultural sector’s water requirements.

The country now has approximately 3,000 solar-powered irrigation systems, which are intended to help improve water access for agricultural production.

A total of 1,315 farmers from the barangays of Sto. Domingo, Namnama, Namillangan, and Calupaan are expected to directly benefit from ALPIS. —RF, GMA News