Team works full force to save irrigation water in Bohol, Philippines

In Bohol Province of the Philippines, production of irrigated rice has been much lower than what is desired because of diminishing irrigation water for agriculture. In response, the government’s National Irrigation Administration (NIA) prepared an action plan for the Bohol Integrated Irrigation System (BIIS). The significant components of the plan are

1. improving operations, monitoring, and evaluation;
2. improving water distribution equity and efficiency;
3. strengthening NIA-irrigators’ association (IA)-local government unit coordination;
4. rehabilitating/upgrading irrigation facilities; and
5. establishing demonstration farms on water-saving technologies.

A major component of the action plan for BIIS is the implementation of a project to improve the performance of irrigation systems and increase water productivity. To effectively implement the various activities and to achieve the project’s goals, a water-saving project team for Bohol was established, with NIA as the lead agency. The project aims to improve the performance of the irrigation systems and increase water productivity through promoting IRRC water-saving technologies to 5,000 rice farmers, starting in March 2006.

Launch of water-saving project and its implementation
The project was launched on 21 Dec 2005 at a multipurpose training hall in Pilar, Bohol. Participants included local and national representatives from the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit 7, NIA, Agricultural Training Institute, provincial and municipal local government units, federations of irrigators’ associations, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium’s (IRRC) Water-Saving Work Group from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
Since the launch, efforts have gone full blast, with 31 water-saving agents (WSA) trained in late December 2005, and 200 IA leaders trained as water-saving officers in late January 2006. Eighteen demonstration farms have been established, showcasing the IRRC technology of alternate wetting and drying (AWD) (otherwise known as controlled irrigation) combined with hybrid rice trials. Then, in February, 19 workshops were held by Engr. Billy Mejia of NIA. These were conducted in local halls, marketplaces, and even churches. Some 3,000 farmers from 19 IAs attended and the presentations were enthusiastically received.

Farmers went to church to attend one of 19 workshops by NIA. (Photo by B. Mejia)

The Bohol Integrated Irrigation System
Three national irrigation systems are operated in Bohol, covering a total area of 10,260 ha. These are the Capayas Irrigation System (CIS) in Ubay (1,160 hectares), the Bohol Irrigation System 1 (BIS 1) (4,960 hectares), and the Bohol Irrigation System 2 (BIS 2) (4,140 hectares), which is expected to be fully constructed in 2007. The Malinao Dam of BIS 1 in Pilar, the Bayongan Dam of BIS 2 in San Miguel, and the Capayas Dam in Ubay are all reservoir-type dams. All systems were constructed with loans from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

The usefulness of the Bayongan Dam will greatly depend on the efficient management and operations of BIS 1 and its reservoir. Water for Bayongan Dam will come mostly from the excess water flowing from Malinao Dam. This will pass through the BIS 1 main canal and into a connecting channel to Bayongan reservoir to supply the irrigation requirements of the service area of BIS 2, and add to the water supply for CIS.

The usefulness of the Bayongan Dam of BIS 2 in San Miguel, Bohol, in 2007, will depend on the efficiency of operations and management of BIS 1 and its reservoir. (Photo by B. Mejia)

However, since the start of operations in 1998, BIS 1 has performed poorly because water has been inefficiently used. This has contributed significantly to the farmers’ low incomes.

Usually, there is not enough water available during the dry season (December to April), especially for “tail-end farmers” who live farthest from the dam. This problem is aggravated by the practice of unequal water distribution and wasteful use by farmers who employ continuous flooding to irrigate their rice crop.

A promising future awaits
The new water-saving project is only 3 months old, but the extension activities have been conducted at a frenetic pace. The project will increase the knowledge of technical personnel and farmers with respect to water saving in the water-scarce irrigated areas of Bohol. With local champions such as Billy Mejia and the provincial and local governments in Bohol playing such active roles, the irrigated rice farmers of Bohol stand to benefit from improved water-use efficiency, water productivity, and equity of water distribution from these irrigation systems. This means higher rice production and improved livelihoods for farm families in the region.
 

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