The Philippines is reportedly wasting much water and if Israel could have 10 per cent of the wasted water, then that would bolster to a large extent Israel’s food production.
This was aired by Israeli members of the Philippines-Israel Business Association of which inventor-agriculturist Gonzalo Catan Jr., executive vice president of Mapecon Green Charcoal Philippines Inc., and his wife, the former Nancy Russel, are members.
Catan said he finds it appalling that the country has so much water brought by strong rains but cannot have enough of it when the dry season comes resulting in heavy losses on agricultural products worth billions of pesos.
The country gets too much water during the rainy season but none enough for irrigation come summer, he claimed, adding the rain is intended for the farms, not for the sea.
This would not be the scenario if we had an effective water management program, he said, adding that with government assistance, farmers can put water impounding mini dams like what they have in some parts of the Cordillera region where small impounding dams mitigate the effects of drought on crops.
During the dry season, Cordillera has minimal damage on crops because of availability of water from impounding projects at strategic portions of river systems and small dams constructed with the help of government agencies.
This ensures continuing supply of irrigation water during drought.
Water Management, Catan said, is practiced in various countries.
When he visited Taiwan, for instance, on a 4-H Club sponsorship, he observed many water impounding dams. Every day he saw water tankers delivering water to different farms.
