CAUAYAN CITY , Philippines – Cloud seeding operations are set to be undertaken in drought-hit areas in the northern part of Isabela to save the corn crops from destruction due to the prolonged dry spell amid the onset of the rainy season in most parts of the country.
“We will again conduct cloud seeding operation to induce rains as an alternative solution to save the corn plants from wil-ting,†said Orlando Lorenzana, assistant director of the Department of Agriculture for Cagayan Valley.
While the rest of Northern Luzon is currently experiencing substantial rainfall, Lorenzana said the farmlands in northern Isabela and parts of southern Cagayan continue to suffer from lack of rains.
He said irrigation water is badly needed to sustain the growth of the remaining corn crops in the drought-hit areas, and the best alternative, according to him, is clouding seeding.
During the first quarter of the year, the agency conducted cloud seeding operations in some parts of Isabela and were able to save 80,000 metric tons of corn crops.