TUGUEGARAO CITY — The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2) has introduced the Mobile Solar Power Irrigation System (MSPIS), a technology that uses solar energy as an alternative to diesel for farm irrigation, to help farmers in drought-prone and climate-vulnerable areas across Cagayan Valley.
Presenting the MSPIS, DA Region 2 Executive Director Rose Mary Aquino noted that for this year, 80 units of the system have been allocated for distribution to farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in the region.
The Cagayan Valley region comprises the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and the island province of Batanes.
According to Aquino, the selection of priority areas for the MSPIS is guided by the Drought Vulnerability Assessment from the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED) Thematic Maps.
She said the assessment identifies areas with high levels of vulnerability to drought, limited access to irrigation, and increased exposure to the impacts of El Niño and prolonged dry spells.
Through the data and spatial analysis provided by PMED, the distribution of MSPIS units will be more target-specific.
Aquino said the approach is intended to direct the technology to farming communities in Region 2 that are classified as drought-prone and climate-vulnerable.
The MSPIS operates using solar energy instead of diesel fuel to power irrigation pumps.
“The system is designed to provide a more efficient and cost-effective irrigation option for farmers who rely on pumped water during dry periods when rainfall is limited and surface water sources are reduced,” explained Aquino.
In introducing the technology to farmers, DA-RFO2 has been conducting a demonstration of the actual operation of the MSPIS.
The demonstrations allow participants to see the components of the mobile unit, its setup process, and how it delivers water for crop production without the use of diesel.
Aquino said the deployment of MSPIS is aligned with efforts to expand access to irrigation in areas where conventional irrigation infrastructure is limited or unavailable.
“By using solar power, the system can be operated in remote or off-grid locations, which are often the same areas identified as highly vulnerable to drought based on PMED mapping,” she said.
The 80 units scheduled for distribution this year will be turned over to FCAs that meet the criteria set through the vulnerability assessment.
The agency said the targeting process aims to ensure that the technology reaches farmers who face the greatest challenges in accessing water during dry seasons.
Aquino said the introduction of the MSPIS adds to the region’s available irrigation options for small-scale and cooperative-managed farms.
“The mobile design allows the system to be transported and used across different farm sites as needed, depending on planting schedules and water requirements,” she said.