Cropping intensity reaches 135%, says Agri Dept.

The Agriculture Department on Monday said its irrigation project has resulted in a 135 percent cropping intensity in Philippines rice lands. National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Antonio Nangel said the agency has irrigated over 1,034,516 hectares (has.) of rice land with 546,363 has. irrigated from May to October 2010 and the remaining 490,153 irrigated from November 2010 to March 2011. From July last year to April 2011, NIA irrigated 194,570 has., including 10,304 has. of new areas, 150,078 has. rehabilitated areas and 34,188 has. restored areas. For the next crop year, the NIA plans to irrigate 1,516 has. under its P50- million Repair and Establishment of Groundwater Irrigation Project. — BC/VS, GMA News