More Farmers to Plant Rice in Isabela, Thanks to New Irrigation Structure
Corn farmers in four barangays in San Isidro, Isabela can now shift to rice farming as the Patanad Diversion Dam and Patanad Pumping Station start to operate after years of waiting. This will eventually contribute in the National Irrigation Agency (NIA)'s efforts in increasing rice production in the country.
The Patanad Diversion Dam, which was inaugurated on April 23, 2014, reuses water from Quitabayag Creek that traverses Barangay Patanad to irrigate 200 hectares of farmland that were previously used mostly for corn. The construction of the diversion dam sparked hope among corn farmers who wanted to shift to rice and to those with farmlands in elevated areas.
Patanad Diversion Dam in Barangay Patanad, San Isidro, Isabela. The diversion dam reuses water from Quitabayag Creek that traverses Barangay Patanad to irrigate 200 hectares of farmland.