A Study Comparing the Impacts of Surface Irrigation and Localized Irrigation (Drip Irrigation)

Here in the Philippines basing on the studies conducted by adb.org, agriculture has been considered as the primary sector of the economy. It has contributed 19.1 % of the Gross Domestic Product and has provided employment for about 36.7% of the labor force. It is also a factor that primarily affects the economic well-being of the country like in determining the employment rate, total food supply available, economic activity, and the exporting activities. Indeed agriculture takes a major part in the growth of the Philippines, the very reason why the government allots so many budgets when it comes to resolving agricultural matters like for example in putting up irrigation systems or schemes. In general, the government sets aside annual funds for the rehabilitation and improvement of the irrigation for almost 3 percent or 27, 000 hectares. Irrigation development is highest in Luzon containing approximately 51.1 percent of the total irrigated land followed by Mindanao with 38.7 percent and Visayas with 10.2 percent. Development of irrigation systems is very important because through these developments the country could minimize the risk of crop failure by stabilizing the level of water supply and maximize the crop productivity. There are various elements considered in constructing an irrigation system like size of project, budget, type of landscape, availability and source of water, needed flow rate and pressure, sprinkler selection and layout, lateral layout, and controller selection Irrigation is an artificial application of water to the soil. Sources of irrigation water can be groundwater extracted from springs or by using wells, surface water withdrawn from rivers, lakes or reservoirs or non-conventional sources Irrigation systems are designed to maximize the