SIBALOM — The local government unit (LGU) of Sibalom has initiated the rehabilitation of irrigation canals to support rice farming for the upcoming wet season, following a request from the local farmers' association.
According to Philippines News Agency, the effort involves the use of a newly procured backhoe to enhance the irrigation infrastructure. The primary focus is the 300-meter canal in Barangay Cabariuan, which will improve water access for approximately 79 hectares of rice fields, spanning both Barangay Cabariuan and the adjacent Barangay Biga-a. Estoya highlighted that Sibalom, which has the largest rice area in the province at 6,500 hectares, is home to 84 farmers' associations. These associations are expected to contribute by providing fuel for the backhoe operations. "Farmers' associations may coordinate with the MAO if they would like to have the irrigation canals in their barangays rehabilitated," he stated.
The rehabilitation project is anticipated to increase rice yields significantly. With adequate water supply and other farming inputs, the production per hectare could increase to five metric tons, up from the current average of 4.3 metric tons. Furthermore, Estoya mentioned that the Philippine Rice Research Institute has allocated 10,000 bags of certified seeds to Sibalom, with 5,318 bags already delivered. He also encouraged local farmers to save part of their harvest for homegrown seeds to ensure seed availability for the next cropping season.