Solar-powered irrigation eases burden on Nueva Ecija farmers
Farmers in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija are now reaping the benefits of solar technology in their processes after the Meralco Customer Retail Services (CRS), Meralco Employees’ Fund for Charity, Inc. (MEFCI), and One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Meralco, donated a solar-powered mobile irrigation system through OMF's Agriculture and Livelihood Electrification Program.
Many members of the agriculture cooperative Bagong Anyo Namcu Farmers Irrigators Association Inc., who collectively cover some 1,000 hectares of land in six barangays in Cuyapo and Nampicuan, previously relied on diesel pumps to irrigate their farmlands to ensure quality harvest such as brown rice. However, this required each of them to shell out about PhP15,000 for diesel every cropping cycle to ensure that their farmlands are well-irrigated for good harvest.
Through its Agriculture and Livelihood Electrification, OMF helps improve the productivity and income of farmers and micro-entrepreneurs by equipping them with sustainable solutions. The new solar-powered irrigation system donated to the cooperative is seen to improve the irrigation processes of the Novo Ecijano farmers, who will no longer rely on diesel pumps to irrigate their farms. Aside from improving their processes with the easy use of the system, budget spent on diesel pumps can now be saved or allotted for their other essential needs.
"'Yung P15,000, malaking bagay na sa farmers. Makakabili na ng gamit ng anak, puwede na pandagdag sa gastos ng pamilya,” said Jose Daileg, Bagong Anyo Namcu FIA officer.
This is the third time that the Meralco CRS Group has donated solar mobile irrigation systems to farmers in Nueva Ecija, with cooperative members in Lupao and Rizal also benefiting last year. Meralco CRS Head Charina Padua said, "Kami po sa Customer Retail Services ay natutuwa na maging bahagi ng mga proyektong magbibigay ng tunay at pangmatagalang tulong sa ating mga magsasaka. Sama-sama tayong magtanim ng binhi para sa mas maliwanag na bukas para sa ating mga pamilya, sa ating komunidad, at sa ating bayan."
Meralco Chief Revenue Officer and OMF Trustee Engr. Ferdinand Geluz also lauded how efforts, big or small, from Meralco employees can lead to an impactful project such as this. “Mas gusto po namin magbigay ng tulong mula sa pondo ng empleyado, gusto namin ay mapapangalagaan at may kahulugan ang aming munting alay sa aming mga kababayan.”
“Ikinagagalak po ng MEFCI at mga miyembro nitong mga empleyado ng Meralco ang pagsuporta sa proyektong ito. Ang solar-powered water pumps ay magdudulot ng mabuting epekto na pangmatagalan sa buhay ng mga magsasaka at ng mga mamamayan dito sa Nueva Ecija,” said MEFCI President Victor Risma IV.
Mayor Jose Hidalgo, meanwhile, warmly welcomed the donation to Cuyapo farmers."Napapanahon po itong ipinagkaloob ng Meralco sa atin, magagamit na ng ating mga magsasaka para humabol pa sa second cropping.”
By introducing such technology for farmers, OMF is helping farmers transition to a more sustainable way of life. OMF President and Meralco Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer Jeffrey Tarayao said, “By providing sustainable solutions to the irrigation challenge faced by our farmers, we do not only help secure their livelihood, but also strengthen the sustainability of food availability.”
Aside from the solar mobile irrigation systems donated to farmers in Nueva Ecija, OMF also helped coffee farmers in Bukidnon, rice millers in Laak, Davao De Oro, e-tricycle drivers in Valenzuela City, fisherfolks in Halian in Siargao Islands, Surigao del Norte, indigenous Eskaya cooperative members in Pilar, Bohol, and T’boli weavers in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato to reach their full potential through innovative solar solutions.