TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines – Rice production output in some 100 hectares forming part of the partially irrigated 3,000 hectare-Basey Irrigation project in Samar has increased by 100 percent, the Samar provincial irrigation officer told reporters in an interview here.

Samar Provincial Irrigation Officer, Engineer Amadeo Montejo, said it has been observed that said rice farmers’ production in those areas rose from an average of 40 bags per hectare to a current average of 90 bags per hectare.

Eastern Visayas agriculture officials reveal that rice harvest in non-irrigated or rain fed areas range from 35 to 45 bags or 50 kilograms of rice. However, for irrigated areas, the production ranges from 80 bags to 130 bags depending upon cultural practices adopted by the farmers.

Montejo added that aside from the increase in production, the farmers in irrigated areas can now plant rice the whole year round compared to non-irrigated areas where the farmers can plant only when there is available water from rain – which is usually once a year only – or plant twice a year only when there is enough water from rain for mid-year cropping.

Montejo disclosed that the Basey Irrigation Project in Basey, Samar, more or less 30 kilometers east of Tacloban - will serve all the farmers in the project area and deliver needed water for rice production. He said his office’s target is for the project to be finished by yearend which, by then some 3,000 hectares of rice land will have already been irrigated by some 3,000 hectares.