Solar-powered irrigation system mulled

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Agriculture Department (CAD) plans to put up a solar-powered irrigation system to help the local farmers here.

City Agriculturist Joey Baclayon said farmers in the city are now slowly experiencing some problems with their water supply, amidst the dry season.

At present, no damages in crops and livestock, however, have been reported to the CAD office.

“Prepared ta karon.  Starting January, ato na na silang gi apud-apuran ug mga kagamitan na magamit nila – fertilizers, hose ug drums para sa tubig, ug uban pa. So far, sa utanon ug mga kahayupan, wala pay reported damages,” Baclayon said.

With the climate change, Baclayon disclosed that they are looking into putting up a solar-powered irrigation system plus solar-powered pumps this year.

“Ang sistema ana dili na siya normal nga open irrigation, “Baclayon said.

This system will then be installed in three sectors—South, North, and Central district of Cebu City.

Baclayon said they have also identified water sources already for this.

Based on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-UN), solar technologies are becoming a viable option for both large and small-scale farmers.

“Solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) provide reliable and affordable energy, potentially reducing energy costs for irrigation,” FAO-UN said.

Through this, the city can now provide a flexible and climate-friendly alternative energy source.

Solar-powered irrigation technology has been gaining interest worldwide and governments have been promoting strategies to promote renewable energy solutions, including solar energy.

In the agricultural sector, the FAO-UN noted that solar-powered irrigation can be particularly successful to overcome the frequently occurring energy shortages causing disruption of supply needed for lifting and distributing irrigation water.

Monitoring and governance of abstraction through water pumping systems, however, should be maintained.

A sustainably managed solar-powered irrigation, ultimately, represents a reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable solution to reduce farmers’ vulnerability to energy shortages that hampers production capacity, FAO-UN stressed.

As for the solar pumps, they will be placed under critical areas including Sudlon 1, and 2, and Tabunan, Baclayon said.

“They still have many water, but kailangan lang ug pump,” Baclayon added.

Meanwhile, Baclayon also bared its plan to acquire equipment that can convert a 500-hectare property around Cambinocot and Paril into rice fields.

This is to augment the supply of rice here and avoid the increasing price of rice in the market. —/GAN (FREEMAN)