Cloud seeding in Negros, Zamboanga eyed

MANILA, Philippines - The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has asked the provincial government of Negros Occidental to conduct cloud seeding operations to mitigate the effect of the dry spell.

In a letter to Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. coursed through provincial agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan, SRA administrator Ma. Regina Martin said cloud seeding would ensure that there would be no shortfall in sugarcane production in the next cropping season.

The SRA said a big portion of the 188,569.66 hectares of sugarcane plantations in Negros Occidental need immediate response. In southern Negros, priority areas for cloud seeding operations are  69,582 hectares; 52,528 hectares in central Negros; and 48,798 hectares in northern Negros.

In Panay, 30,764 hectares of sugarcane farms need cloud seeding; 7,895 hectares in Cebu; and 8,127 hectares in Ormoc, Leyte.

In Zamboanga City, agriculturist Diosadao Palacat said the Department of Agriculture has provided P3 million, P300,000 from the city government and  P1.5 million from the Zamboanga City Water District for cloud seeding operations for two months.

Palacat said damage to agriculture and fishery products in the city due to the dry spell has reached P100 million. – Czeriza Valencia, Roel Pareño