Newly-completed diversion dam to boost rice production of farmers in Bohol

CEBU CITY – Rice farmers in Guindulman, Bohol Province can now look forward to a steady water supply for their farmlands with the turned over of the newly-completed diversion dam worth P4-million to the rice farmer/members of Awihaw Lombog Farmers Irrigators Association (ALFIA) in Guindulman town and is expected to distribute water supply to around 20 hectares rice land in Awihaw, Barangay Lombog.

Department of Agriculture (DA-7) regional director Atty. Salvador Diputano shared this information to Assistant Secretary Jonji Gonzales of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) during the “Laging Handa” Network Briefing News, Tuesday.

Diputado said that the newly-completed diversion dam was turned over to the association on November 17 and is seen to boost the rice production in Guindulman and its neighboring towns.  Most farmers in the locality are were depended on rainwater to irrigate their rice farm lands.

“The Awihaw diversion dam is one of the six ongoing agricultural infrastructure projects of DA Secretary William Dar in Guindulman, Bohol amounting to more than P71 million and the establishment of these irrigation systems hopes to help rice farmers increase their income and maximize yield,” Diputado bared.

Diputado added that these projects include another construction of diversion dam in different sites, two units of small water impounding project, solar powered irrigation system and farm-to-market roads.

Guindulman Mayor Maria Fe Piezas expressed her gratitude to DA for the said project and said that her town can now contribute to the increase production of rice as the Province of Bohol is considered as the top rice producing province in Central Visayas.

OPAV Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino said that investing into farm infrastructure like irrigation system helps idle lands become more productive, which benefits the farmers.

“Rural productivity is one of the key goals in the government’s thrust to boost the agriculture industry. These much-needed farm infrastructure facilities help our farmers increase their output and income,” Dino said.

He said that this latest infrastructure assistance supports the Plant, Plant, Plant program of Agriculture Secretary William Dar that aims to ensure food security and help farmers increase their production.

Diputado bared that the DA has focused to build more agriculture infrastructures to help the farm sector to improve rural productivity and increase the income of local farmers through agency's agri-industrialization strategy. (Photos: DA-7)