SAN LEONARDO, Nueva Ecija — National Irrigation Administration administrator Benny Antiporda is urging farmers to conduct triple cropping on irrigated agricultural lands to fully utilize farmlands.
Antiporda said that triple cropping is possible if there is good coordination among NIA, farmers, and other stakeholders, citing that by doing so would ensure food security in the country.
The NIA chief also disclosed that the agency is fast-tracking “Oplan Karding,” an operation in partnership with the Department of Agriculture led by Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban.
Antiporda said that Oplan Karding aims to promote the spirit of bayanihan among NIA officials, local government officials, and farmers on operation and maintenance activities of irrigation systems, especially, canal clearing, dredging and desilting operations after the onslaught of super typhoon “Karding” last month.
He also expressed his utmost support for the adoption of triple cropping of the Rice Granary of the Philippines in maximizing rice production and increasing national output and encouraged the farmer-members to express their issues and concerns on irrigation service delivery to be immediately acted upon by the agency.
Adopting the practice of multiple cropping on irrigation systems can help in alleviating hunger, decreasing overall cost of inputs, and controlling pests, weed growth and disease infestation, thus resulting to better farm management and sustainable development of the nation.