Cloud seeding mulled in R12

KORONADAL CITY --- The agriculture department has earmarked P2.5 million for initial cloud seeding flights in central Mindanao to avert crop losses due to the drought in the region since February.

Engineer Milagros Casis, director of the Department of Agriculture for Region 12, said Wednesday they shall soon embark on the operation to spawn rains.

“We are just processing documents needed to start the cloud seeding operations along with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management,” Casis said.

The dry spell since February has scorched vast swaths of rice and corn farms in central Mindanao’s adjoining Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato and South Cotabato provinces.

“This intervention is to cushion the impact of the El-Niño phenomenon,” Casis said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has announced that there could be a below normal rainfall in southern provinces in the coming months due to El-Niño.

Casis said their technicians in the provinces and cities in Region 12 are encouraging farmers to plant drought-tolerant crops meantime as alternative sources of income. (CONTRIBUTOR – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)