Farmers reject privatized irrigation

PALAYAN CITY—Government and farmers groups have rejected the proposed privatization of irrigation services.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said such move would impair food security.

“We are not supporting that,” he said, noting that the department was already into an early planting campaign, so “how could private entities support this program?”

National Irrigation Administration head Antonio Nangel agreed with Alcala.

“The private sector has a different interest,” he told Manila Standard, noting that the agency still had to develop 1.5 million hectares to maximize farm yield.

“The most important is how can we improve the production of farmer beneficiaries and maximize our resources by using new technology of renewable energy and potable or domestic water supply,” Nangel said.

Alcala was joined by Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio Umali, 3rd district Rep. Czarina Umali and Nangel along with NIA-UPRIIS operation manager Josephine Salazar to distribute agriculture implements and assistance at the capitol.

Beneficiaries received 50 hand tractors, 20 threshers, 4 four-wheel tractors, 3 rice reapers, 3 seed cleaners among other equipment.

“The Aquino administration’s farm mechanization program aims to uplift the lives of agriculture workers and meet food sufficiency,” he said, vowing a stop to rice importation by next year. –Ferdi G. Domingo, Manila Standard Today