Basilan plans demo greenhouse for Israeli drip technology

BASILAN, Philippines — The provincial government of Basilan will put up an organic greenhouse demo farm using a drip irrigation system patterned after Israeli self-sustaining agriculture technology.

Basilan Gov. Jim Salliman said Friday the greenhouse will be put up in Barangay Sumagdang in Isabela City.

Salliman said engineer Salonga Lasatan has started talks with Netaphils, Inc. in Davao City, which represents multinational Netafim Ltd. Israel. Netafim provides technical support for farm development programs.

"The initial legwork went well. We are confident we can proceed with the project as planned," Salliman said.

Basilan is touted as the new investment frontier in the Bangsamoro region because of the improved peace and order situation in its 11 towns and the cities of Isabela and Lamitan, its capital.

The island province was a former bastion of the Abu Sayyaf terror group.

The provincial government of Basilan has been expanding its agricultural programs and promoting diversified farming to cushion the adverse effects of the “cocolisap” or coconut scale insect infestation that ravaged local coconut farms as well as the plummeting price of rubber from rubber trees in the island's plantations.

Residents of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao first heard of the Israeli drip irrigation system in the 1990s, pioneered in the adjoining towns of Datu Paglas and Buluan in Maguindanao. The towns host Cavendish banana farms operated by foreign investors and their local partners.

The Israeli drip irrigation system uses pipes, connected to reservoirs and attached to spouts, to water crops.

He said Basilan has potential sources of clean water that can be tapped for drip irrigation facilities.

The provincial government earlier constructed three major irrigation projects near rice-producing areas in the province with the help of the National Irrigation Administration. 

Salliman said provincial planners are certain that diversification in agricultural ventures can further boost the local economy.