Patnongon: The newly inaugurated PHP4.8 million small diversion dam in Barangay Alvaniz, Patnongon, will enable farmers to plant rice thrice a year. The dam benefits the Alvaniz Upland Farmers Association (AUFA), whose members used to plant rice for one cropping or shift to corn and vegetables, which do not require much water.

According to Philippines News Agency, the project, with an estimated length of 100 meters, sources its water from the Alvaniz River. 'The dam could water about 50 hectares of the rice farms in Barangay Alvaniz,' Department of Agriculture (DA) Agricultural Program Antique Coordinating Officer Sonie Guanco said in an interview on Wednesday.

With the dam project, Guanco said, farmers are assured of sufficient rice for their consumption and produce more to be sold in the market.