Atok farmers appeal for water pumps

By Redjie Cawis

ATOK, Benguet - Farmers here are requesting water pumps for their farmlands so these would not be affected even by long dry spells particularly during summer.

Vice mayor Marson Lay-at said dry seasons affect quality and quantity of vegetables.

Atok is one of the biggest producers of highland vegetables being transported to La Trinidad in this province and Baguio City and to market outlets in the Manila and other parts of the country.

Lay-at said there are water sources in the barangays such as creeks and streams but many farmers do not have water pumps and watering hoses to supply water to farmlands in the upland barangays like Paoay and Sayangan.

The low-lying barangays of Naguey and Pasdong have already been irrigated.

At the moment, farmers are manually carrying water from the source up to their farmlands, he said.

Lay-at said they have asked the National Irrigation Authority for water pumps and water source installation in their municipality and they are hoping this will be answered soon.

They have also sought assistance from the provincial government and other government agencies to help them with their problem.

During extremely cold days from December to February, Atok farmers experience frost bites on their vegetable farms.