Submitted by niaregion3 on
To prepare farmers for the upcoming 2024-2025 Dry Crop season, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Zambales IMO held a series of System Monitoring Council Meetings facilitated by its Operation and Maintenance Section and Institutional Development Unit. These meetings, held on September 17, 20, 23, and 26, 2024, focused on updating farmers about the status of key National Irrigation Systems in the province, including Nayom Bayto RIS, Upper Bagsit RIS, Bucao RIS, and Sto. Tomas RIS.
The main objectives of these meetings were to inform farmers about the current status of irrigation systems, review the achievements during the Wet Season Cropping, and present NIA’s plans and programs for the next cropping season. This initiative demonstrates NIA's commitment to ensuring that farmers are well-informed and prepared for the upcoming challenges.
In addition to farmers, representatives from various agencies participated in the discussions, providing valuable insights and support. Key attendees included the Provincial and Municipal Agriculturists, Municipal Councilors overseeing agricultural committees, the Provincial Director of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Zambales, representatives from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), and Barangay Captains from service areas of each irrigation system. These agencies outlined their respective programs and services available to farmers, which ranged from equipment loans to insurance coverage.
The Provincial Agriculturist’s Office (PAO) provided crucial guidance on how Irrigators Associations (IAs) can expedite requests for farm equipment, such as tractors, while emphasizing the importance of RSBSA registration and accreditation as Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to ensure prioritization of their requests. The Municipal Agriculturist's Office (MAO) addressed concerns regarding the schedule for input distribution for the next cropping season, offering immediate solutions to farmers’ questions.
The PCIC reminded farmers of their entitlement to free crop and livestock insurance, as well as an affordable Php 50.00 life insurance, available through their programs.
At the conclusion of the meetings, farmers expressed their gratitude for NIA’s continuous efforts to improve irrigation systems across the province. They also appreciated the increased operational subsidies allocated to further support their farming activities.
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