DA to build 57 low-cost irrigation projects

Impressed by the positive impact they bring on rural communities, Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor said yesterday his agency will construct 57 additional low-cost small water impounding projects (SWIPs) in the remaining months of 2001 to complement the 95 SWIPs built in the first half of the year.

He said the new structures, costing a total of P160.9 million, will provide water to 3,228 hectares of farmlands in various parts of the country, benefiting mostly upland farmers cultivating rice, vegetables and other high value crops.

Montemayor said the SWIPs would save money for the government because DA would be spending on the average about P49.832 for every hectare irrigated, as compared to about P117,000 required to irrigate the same size if the undertaking involves the construction of big-ticket dams and multi-purpose irrigation works.

SWIPs are earth dam structures built across depressions or valleys to harvest and store rainfall and excess rainwater, or run-off in the upland. In contrast, national irrigation and communal irrigation projects are lowland civil engineering works that often utilize concrete and usually use rivers and creeks for rice production.

The decision to built SWIPs was prompted by a clamor by mayors and other local government officials to have the structures built in their municipalities because they minimize soil erosion and flooding in lowland areas and ensure farmers to plant various crops and engage in other agri-aqua livelihood activities, the secretary said.

"Additionally, SWIPs, which are built at a maximum height of 30 meters, serve as fishing and recreational ground for upland farmers and local communities because the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources are assisting our people to engage in inland fishing," Montemayor explained.

He pointed out that SWIPs and other small scale irrigation projects like shallow tube wells, pressurized irrigation systems, small farm reservoir and diversion dams are obviously cheaper to build and easier to manage.

Of the 57 additional SWIPs, nine will be built in Central Mindanao capable of irrigating a combined area of 488 hectares. Caraga will have seven that can irrigate a total of 394 has; Eastern Mindanao with six that can water 329 has; Northern Mindanao with five that can irrigate 470 has; and the Cordillera Administrative Region with four capable of providing water to 191 has.

Montemayor said the additional SWIPs should complement the 95 others completed in the first six months of the Arroyo administration which have been irrigating 4,106 has of agricultural land and allowing some 2,643 small marginal farmers to increase their production.