Use of Small-Scale Irrigation Systems and Water

Saving Practices in Highland Vegetable Farming

in the Cordillera Region, Philippines

Seminar on Irrigation Water Conservation and Management in Highland

Vegetable Farming
June 21, 2019
BSU-Buguias Campus, Loo, Buguias, Benguet
Rationale
 Availability of irrigation water and water-use efficiency are critical factors for increased
and sustainable production, productivity and lower food prices
 SDG 2: Achieve food security …and promote sustainable agriculture; SDG 9 – building
resiliency; SDG 13-combatting climate change and its impacts
 With water being scarce, it is important to ensure that every drop of water counts for crop
production
 Much technical and policy research done on irrigation and irrigation development in the
Philippines is on large irrigation systems and pump irrigation; few studies focused on
small-scale irrigation systems in relation to highland farming systems
 Need to understand better the status of use of small-scale irrigation and irrigation
distribution systems in highland farming systems, water conservation practices of farmers,
and identify gaps for R&D, policy and planning.
Objectives
 To characterize the irrigations sources, and use of sprinklers, drip
irrigation and other small-scale irrigation and irrigation
distribution systems in highland vegetable farming systems in the
Cordillera region;
 To determine problems and constraints in the use of sprinkler and
drip irrigation, and other SSIS;
 To determine farmers’ irrigation water conservation and
management practices; and
 To identify gaps and provide policy recommendations on the use of
SSIS in the highland vegetable farming systems.
Study Area Philippines

• Cordillera
Administrative
Region (CAR),
Luzon, Philippines

• Major Highland
Vegetable Growing
Areas
• Benguet
• Mt. Province
• Ifugao Cordillera region
Methodology
 Data sources
• Secondary data – Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA); Benguet-
Office of the Provincial Agriculturist; Municipal Local Government
Units
• Barangay-Level through FGDs/KIIs
• Household Survey
 3 provinces: Benguet, Mt. Province, Ifugao
 264 farmers; 30 barangays in 6 municipalities
 Data analysis
• Descriptive
Findings
SOURCES OF IRRIGATION WATER FOR HIGHLAND VEGETABLE FARMING
All
Sources of irrigation
Parcels
Sources of irrigation
Spring 45.3%
River/creek 50.9%
NIA canal/tank 3.5%
Groundwater 0.3%
SWIP 0%
% of farmers using
some kind of reservoir 16%
Source: Household survey
Findings
IRRIGATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
Items All Parcels
Distribution system from source
Hose 97%
Earth canal 2%
NIA canal 0.4%
Hose+lined canal 0.4%
% using pump to access water from source 25%
Distribution system on farm
Sprinkler 82%
Hose 17%
Hand watering can 0.5%
Drip 0.5%
% using pump for distributing water on farm 5% WS; 22%DS
% using reservoir tank for sprinkler 16%

Source: Household survey

Findings
CHARACTERISTICS OF SPRINKLERS AND HOSES USED

SPRINKLER CHARACTERISTICS All Parcels Hose from Hose within

HOSE CHARACTERISTICS
Model source to farm the farm
Automatic 98% Type
Locally fabricated 2% Black hose/HDPE 99.6% 41.7%
Others 1% Garden/rubber hose 0.4% 58.3%%
Type of Sprinkler System Brand
Portable 53% Moldex 45% 22%
Semi-permanent 45% Class A 42% 24%
Permanent 1% Ordinary 10% 30%
Material Type 0.3% Others 3% 24%
Plastic 99% Size
Brass/Steel 1% 0.25 inch dm 1% 5%
Droplet size 0.5 inch dm 15% 59%
Fine 95% 0.625 to 1 inch dm 67% 33%
Others (Moderate, Misting…) 5% >1 inch dm 17% 3%
Findings
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESERVOIR TANKS USED IN HIGHLAND FARMING SYSTEMS
RESERVOIR CHARACTERISTICS All Parcels
Type
Cement tank 55%
Plastic tank 27%
GI tank 4%
Earth embankment 11%
Others 4%

Location of reservoir
Near the source 29%
On the farm 71%
Average storage capacity (m3) 518
Average height of tank/barrel (m) 8.5
Findings
CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER PUMPS PUMP CHARACTERISTICS All Parcels
USED IN HIGHLAND FARMING SYSTEMS Pump condition
New 67%
Surplus 33%
Country of origin
Japan 65%
China 33%
Others 2%
Engine condition
New 79%
Surplus 21%
Type of engine 518
Diesel 67%
Gasoline 27%
Electric 6%
% air-cooled 71%
Findings ITEMS %/Mean
Brand
CHARACTERISTICS OF DRIP IRRIGATION USED Harbest/Jain 60%
(n=15) Netafim/Israel 33%
Harbest and Netafim 7%
Average area served (sqm) 1,063
No. of plant rows
8 7%
6 27%
5 7%
4 47%
2 13%
% installed above ground 100%
% of drip users using pump 60%
Use timer in drip irrigation 20%
Year installed
Before 2010 33%
2010-2017 67%
Findings
HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS OF SPRINKLER USERS
All
Items
(n=264)
Household head characteristics
Mean age 41
% No schooling 2%
% Elementary undergraduate/graduate 32%
% High school undergraduate/graduate 40%
% College undergraduate/Vocational 20%
% College graduate 6%
Mean number of years in school attended 14
Number of years in farming 26
Average household size 4.81
% member of organization 39%
% attended trainings in agriculture 31%
Findings Cropping system

Monocropping
28%
FARM/PARCEL CHARACTERISTICS OF SPRINKLER USERS
Crop rotation
All Mixed 71%
Items cropping
(n=264) 1%

Total farm size (sqm) 5438

Average number of parcels 1.47
Mean parcel size (sqm) 3851
155-2333 sqm 27% Annual No. of croppings
2334-4541 sqm 34% 4% 1-cropping
3- 4-croppings 13%
4542-6749 sqm 27% 9%
croppings/
Type of cultivation mix
Open field 99% cropping
2% 3- 2-
Greenhouse/rain shelter 1%
croppings croppings
% owned farms 70% 34% 36% 2-
% supply-operated 19% croppings/
mix
% Hilly undulating - terraced 79% cropping
2%
Findings
HOUSEHOLD AND FARM/PARCEL CHARACTERISTICS OF DRIP IRRIGATION USERS
All All
Items Items
(n=15) (n=15)
Household head characteristics Total farm size (sqm) 4564.27sqm
Mean age 49 Average number of parcels 2.27
% No schooling 0% Mean parcel size (sqm) 4448.8 sqm
% Elementary undergraduate/graduate 9% Farm location
% High school undergraduate/graduate 6% Atok 89%
% College undergraduate/Vocational 12% Bauko 27%
% College graduate 59% Type of cultivation
Mean number of years in school attended 11 Open field 6.67%
Number of years in farming 20 Greenhouse/rain shelter 93.3%
Average household size 5 % owned farms 86.67%
% member of organization 80% % Hilly undulating - terraced 73.33%
% attended trainings in agriculture 53% % Spring-supported 20%
Farmers’ Reasons for Using Sprinkler Irrigation
REASONS %
Easy to irrigated plants/easier task 71%
Save time/maximize time/can do multiple task 62%
Save labor 3%
Appropriate for my crops 3%
Available resource/affordable 3%
Even distribution of water on the crops 3%
Flooding not applicable nowadays 1%
Good percolation during dry season/soil will not be compacted 1%
Compatible with hose that is commonly used; easier to transfer 1%
To control population of pest/prevent insect damage/prevent
spread of pest like DBM 1%
Farmers’ Reasons for Using Drip Irrigation
REASONS %
Save labor and time/Economical/Save
water 73%
Better harvest and have quality production 7%
Prevent diseases particularly blight 7%
Uniform wetted areas/uniformity of irrigation 7%
Prevent soil erosion 7%
Awareness and Practice of Water-Saving
Technologies/Practices
Water-saving technologies % Aware % of aware practicing
Crop specific rotation 90% 67%
Terracing 80% 72%
Use of compost 71% 61%
Use of short-duration varieties 64% 53%
Use of mulch 42% 11%
Use of cover crops 40% 22%
Use of short-duration crops 38% 30%
Rainwater harvesting 31% 10%
Strip tilling 29% 21%
Use of drip irrigation 25% 0.75%
Use of drought-tolerant varieties 22% 16%
Scientific irrigation scheduling 3% 3%
Management of Irrigation Sources
 Farmers in general manage by themselves the private springs where they get their
irrigation. No exact property rights are defined for springs used as irrigation water.
 For NIA-assisted establishment of CIS, management lies with the officers of the
irrigators’ associations. Rotation and scheduling are arranged especially during DS
 Common understanding and practice is that tapping the water for irrigation is on first
come first serve basis so the first one to tap his hose has the priority.
 Users are responsible in cleaning, fixing and maintaining the springs and rivers. The
frequency of cleaning ranges from 2-3x a month to once a year.
 In terms of conflicts such as not sharing of water, using of water source without
permission, stealing of hose from the source, disconnecting hoses, etc., farmers settle by
talking amongst conflicting parties, involve barangay lupon if necessary
 Some 3 cases of farmers charging use of spring water source were reported; indication of
increasing scarcity and increasing economic value of water
Constraints and Problems with Irrigation Sources
and Water Management
Irrigation Sources
Shortage of water in springs/rivers
during DS
Soil erosion occur during rainy season
Easily clogged or detached hose from the source
Stealing of hose from source
Not sharing of water source
Use of water source without permission
Deliberate disconnecting of hose from the source/
Overlapping hoses/Illegal tapping of hose
Conflict in scheduling of irrigation water
Excessive use of irrigation water
Irrigation facilities/Distribution facilities
Use of sprinklers
- Clogging and easily destroyed
- Low pressure during the dry season/will not function well
- Typhoons destroy hose
- Someone is detaching hose
- Some claims ownership of the water source
- When sprinkler pressure is not properly adjusted, leaves
of plants are damaged
- Causes clubroot damage and yellowing of plants
- Sleepless night
- Need to transfer sprinkler to fully irrigate farm
Recommended Solutions of Farmers
ON PROBLEMS WITH IRRIGATION SOURCES WITH IRRIGATION FACILITIES
Paint the hose for identification Clean and buy new
Build reservoir/Gather water first before Limit time to irrigate
irrigating/Build little reservoir using plastic
No cutting of trees in the watershed sourceTalk with person concerned
Patience
Regular cleaning and no dumping of garbage Put rubber tightly into hose
Plant trees/Protect the forest Secure connection
Government should provide cemented tanks Rotation in irrigation
Do not convert watershed into vegetable Make a “Y”-formation
gardens
Fencing the springs Use sprinkler only when water is
Schedule irrigation plenty
Farmers’ Perceptions of What Government Can Do To
Ensure Sustainable Irrigation Water Resources
Suggested Government Assistance %
Plant more trees 50%
Provide water pump, pipe, hose 20%
Provide water tanks 18%
Continuous maintenance/fund program of NIA 2.2%
Continuous implementation of reforestation and
measures against illegal logging 1.9%
Site survey is needed/inspection of farm conditions 1.5%
In case of calamities, repair damages of NIA canal 0.4%
No response 5%
Implications to Policy and Planning
 In highland farming areas, NIA should prioritize irrigation development policies and
strategies that concern springs and highland vegetable farming systems (versus the
NIA focus on large infrastructure solutions typical for rice-based farming systems).
 Need to discuss proactive and vigorous policies and advocacy activities on saving the
springs and watershed (convergence effort: DA, DENR, NIA, LGUs, SUCs); need Multi-
Sectoral Forum for Watershed and Spring Management –specific to Cordillera
 Fund development studies which identify best IK systems, and fund upscaling of
upscale able IK systems
 Review existing watershed and land conversion laws and their implementing rules and
regulations and implement or create municipal level/barangay level ordinances as
needed ; Create laws that will reinforce protection of watershed and springs located in
private lands
Implications to S&T/R&D
 Conduct more R&D programs on efficient irrigation techniques and water
management protocols when using sprinklers and drip irrigation for specific
highland vegetables
 Develop technologies and engineering solutions that can prolong life of HDPE
and rubber hoses, and earth embankments; modify current SWIP and SFR
rainwater harvesting technologies to adapt to highland terrains/farm systems
 Document indigenous knowledge and practices on irrigation management and
water conservation, upscale and mainstream best practices
 Conduct more studies on sustainability of rainwater harvesting and fog
harvesting systems applicable to the highland vegetable farming systems
 Develop training modules and conduct trainings on spring water management,
sprinkler water management, drip irrigation for specific crops
 THANK YOU
VERY MUCH!!!