The second episode of Kodao’s rural radio program highlights the importance of irrigation in agriculture and the issues that affect the country’s water supply with guest Pambansang Kilusan ng Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA) Leader Ireneo Cirilla.

A reliable source of irrigation is an essential part of an adequate farming system as it helps enhance soil conditions, encourage plant growth, and improve crop yields [1]. As a farmer and member of a community irrigation organization, Cirilla recognizes the value of good irrigation in farmlands. 

As of December 2023, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) reported that over 2,155,000 ha of irrigable land has been developed all over the country, with over 1,000,000 ha serviced by the national irrigation system [2]. Yet poor planning, environmental degradation, and corruption within the irrigation system continue to cause water supply issues in farms, Cirilla said. These problems worsen the pollution and shortage of traditional water and irrigation sources that small farmers depend on.

Due to this, Cerilla vehemently calls for pro-farmer legislation that ensures that the agricultural sector can actually benefit from the country’s water supply. He hopes that the national authorities heed their call in order to empower farmers and, in turn, contribute to food security.

This rural radio initiative is a collaborative project by AMARC Asia-Pacific and ComDev Asia and produced locally by Kodao Productions and PAKISAMA. It is supported by the United Nations’ (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization for the UN Decade of Family Farming.

To learn more about the issues faced by farmers in the Philippines and in the Asia Pacific region, visit the ComDev Asia website and listen to other rural radio episodes.

References

[1] Walker, W.R. (1989). Guidelines for designing and evaluating surface irrigation systems: FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 45. Food And Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. https://www.fao.org/4/t0231e/t0231e03.htm#:~:text=Irrigation%20in%20arid%20areas%20of,more%20complex%20than%20many%20appreciate.

[2] National Irrigation Administration. (2023). Status of Irrigation Development. https://www.nia.gov.ph/sites/default/files/pdf_reader/Status_of_Irrigation_Development_CY2023.pdf 

Photo courtesy: Andrew Martin, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons