MARAMAG, Bukidnon (PIA)—Farmer-members of the Land Tiller Inhabitants of Musuan (LIMUS) and adjacent farming areas will soon benefit from the P1.21 million CMU-LIMUS Solar-Powered Fertigation System (SPFS), which will rise at Musuan, Dologon, Maramag, Bukidnon.

This, after Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado of the Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Office (DA)-10 and Central Mindanao University (CMU) President Dr. Jesus Antonio H. Derije inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) at the agency compound, December 21.

The facility aims to redefine production efficiency using an irrigation system fueled by solar energy with the integration of low-pressure fertigator tanks providing water and nutrient requirements to the targeted eight-hectare service area.

Collado said the SPFS is set to increase productivity as it intensifies the town’s rice production in pursuit of the department’s continuing effort to modernize the agriculture sector and achieve its thrust of being a rice-sufficient country.

He said this intervention also forms part of the agency’s support to Executive Order No. 70 to put an end to insurgencies, while recognizing the capped three-decade-long strife between the farmers’ group and CMU over land disputes.

Members of LIMUS, Bukidnon Free Farmers Agricultural Laborers Organization (BUFFALO), and Tried Agricultural Movers Association of Rural Active Workers (TAMARAW)—collectively known as BTL—have been duly accredited as legitimate farmers back in 2020, and are officially enrolled in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture for easier access to government interventions.

Since then, BTL has been poured with assistance such as the provision of inbred rice seeds, equipment assistance, water supply, and electrification, among others, to develop rice cultivation of the community.

“The main intention of the SPFS is to make sure that they [farmers] will have better harvest and yield. This will also definitely help our rice farmers, especially those from the LIMUS group, who were then sympathizers of the left-leaning group,” Derije said, as he extends appreciation for DA’s fund allocation under its Rice program.

Collado remains hopeful that the designed system will not only increase crop production while significantly cutting farmers’ input costs, but will also allow the folks to remain in the government’s fold.

The MOA signing was also graced by DA-10 Regional Technical Director Carlota Madriaga, Regional Agricultural and Engineering Division Chief Engr. Deliza Camaro, along with section chiefs, Engr. Junel Ablanque and Engr. Romil Española, and CMU staff. (DA-10/PIA-10)