The communal irrigation project in Barangay Calapi, Hinigaran town, a first National Irrigation Authority assisted irrigation project is seen to cut production costs and increases yield of rice farmers in the area.

Since January this year, farmers of the barangay saved an average of P9,000 per hectare per cropping but increased yield up to 80 to 100 cavans per hectare, Jemima Tinaco, president of the Cadabopa Irrigators' Association said in a government press release.

The savings previously were spent on fuel, operator and maintenance in pumping water from the Camansi River to irrigate rice farms.

Noel Mesicula, an official of the barangay and member of an irrigators' association said they are grateful to the government for the project, the press release said.

The CIP is a P10-million project that will serve 120 hectares of rice farms to about a hundred farmers.

Initially, a P4-million allocation was spent on the construction of diversion dam and 800 meters irrigation canal serving 30 hectares tilled by 40 small farmers, the press release said.

The other P6 million is needed to complete the project to cater to the 120 hectares of rice farms, it added.

NIA Negros Occidental OIC Engr. Lorena Sioco turned over the partially completed project to the Irrigators' Association for operation and maintenance, the press release said.

Rep. Alejandro Mirasol (5 th District, Neg. Occ.) and Hinigaran Vice Mayor Teresita Gabrido witnessed the turnover of the project, the press release also said.*

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