MANILA, Philippines — The government has constructed another unit of solar powered irrigation system in Sultan Kudarat as part of efforts to help ensure sufficient rice supply in the country. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the DA has turned over the P5.3-million SPIS to Isulan in Sultan Kudarat. The SPIS has a total service area of 60 hectares of rain fed rice land and has solar panels that can generate electricity enough to irrigate rice areas daily. With the SPIS, rice farmers can now plant three times a year, allowing them to save at least P100,000 per cropping on diesel fuel expenses. The SPIS, one of DA’s flagship programs, aims to ensure sufficient rice supply in the coming years and could even result in surplus production in the country.

Source: Philippine Star April 09, 2019 23:26 UTC