April 20, 2012 10:28 pm

CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela, April 19 – The National Irrigation Administration – Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MRIIS) is fast tracking the rehabilitation of irrigation canals and other facilities of the Magat Dam to ensure that it will be operational next month in time for the introduction of the five croppings-in-two-year scheme.

Engineer Wilfredo Gloria, MRIIS engineering division chief, said that personnel of the maintenance division are busy conducting repair and rehabilitation of irrigation canals in the different parts of the province.

He said the maintenance and rehabilitation activity on the MRIIS usually takes two months but his men are working double time with the introduction of the five croppings in-two-year scheme.

The rehabilitation of canals started April and will end on May 7, where the MRIIS will start to release waters from the Magat Dam signaling the start of the five cropping in two years scheme implementation.

NIA-MRIIS has identified 20,100 hectares from Isabela and Quirino where the MRIIS will deliver its irrigation waters.
The five croppings-in-two-year scheme was introduced by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as a means of meeting the country’s goal to become rice self-sufficient by year 2013. (PNA)LAP/LAM/SCD/MEdale/mba

Source: NIA-MRIIS fast-tracking rehab of irrigation facilities for new cropping scheme