CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (December 20) — A ₱20-million solar-powered irrigation project is set to revive agricultural productivity in one of Bukidnon’s once-thriving upland vegetable communities, offering farmers a sustainable solution to long-standing water and market challenges.
The Department of Agriculture-Region 10 (DA-10), in partnership with the First Community Cooperative, will construct the green irrigation system in Barangay Miarayon in Talakag, an area long regarded as a major source of vegetables in the province.
DA-10 Executive Director Jose Apollo Pacamalan said the project is designed to restore reliable water access while lowering farmers’ production costs through renewable energy.
“Miarayon was once a vegetable gold mine of Bukidnon, but over the years its productivity declined,” Pacamalan said in a statement Thursday. “One major factor was market mismatch and over-dependence on buyers outside the region.”
He explained that many farmers relied heavily on Manila-based markets, leaving them vulnerable to fluctuating prices, logistical bottlenecks, and high transport expenses. These pressures, combined with inconsistent irrigation, gradually weakened farm output in the upland barangay.
The solar irrigation system will use photovoltaic panels to power water pumps, providing a steady and climate-resilient water supply for vegetable farms.
Officials said the system will reduce dependence on fuel-powered pumps and help farmers better plan planting cycles despite changing weather patterns.
Pacamalan welcomed the initiative of the First Community Cooperative, noting that it demonstrates how cooperatives and government agencies can work together to revive key agricultural areas.
Beyond boosting yields, the project is expected to strengthen food supply within Northern Mindanao by encouraging farmers to re-engage local and regional markets instead of relying solely on buyers outside the region.
Technical assessments and coordination with local stakeholders are now underway, with construction possibly starting as early as January.
Once operational, the green irrigation system is expected to help restore livelihoods and renew Bukidnon’s reputation as a major vegetable producer in Mindanao.
