As rice planting season begins, farmers in Mangaldan are working faster and spending less, thanks to the Department of Agriculture’s solar-powered water pump project.

“Simula kahapon, nagpapakarga ako ng tubig gamit ‘yung water pump. Ngayon, medyo marami na, kaya bawas gastos na,” Rudy Ogoy, a beneficiary farmer, said.

The solar water pump helps irrigate large rice fields, allowing farmers to plant more efficiently. In addition to this, water from irrigation canals has started to flow again.

“Open din ‘yung tubig ng irigasyon mula sa National Irrigation Administration sa kanilang facility,” Manuel Aquino, Rice Coordinator of the Mangaldan Municipal Agriculture Office, said.

The agriculture office assured that there will be no water supply problems for farmers this season. Continuous rainfall has also helped irrigate rain-fed rice fields.

Full irrigation support from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is expected to begin by the third week of June.