Nagbalitangan Farmers’ Association produced more than double palay yield from the hybrid and inbred rice varieties planted at the demo farm covered by the Solar Powered Irrigation System of the Department of Agriculture in coordination with the Provincial Government of Abra.

The farmers reported they are able to harvest 8-10 tons of fresh weight palay per hectare during their Field Day celebration on October 16, 2019 at Bangbangcag, Bucay.  Narciso Tamo, a farmer said he harvested 26 sacks of palay this year compared to 10 sacks last year without the intervention from DA and OPAg.

Provincial Agriculturist Expedito Villaruz commended the farmers for maintaining the solar panels and he asked them to continue using the high-yielding hybrid and inbred rice varieties to increase their production.

Installed in May 2019, the Solar Powered Irrigation System in Bangbangcag covers 14 hectares of rice fields benefitting 32 farmer households. The NSIC RC 416 inbred and Bigante plus hybrid rice variety were among the rice varieties with the highest yield, according to Agricultural Technologist Oscar Bragas.