• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM) has allocated a P6-million budget for cloudseeding operations in Western Visayas and Negros Island Region (NIR) amid the threat of prolonged dry spell linked to El Niño phenomenon.
DAR-NIR Regional Director Jose Albert Barrogo said on Wednesday, May 20 that the cloudseeding operations will be based at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Negros Occidental once the BSWM gives the go-signal for implementation.
Barrogo said they are closely monitoring the current weather condition to determine whether the rains being experienced are only temporary.
He noted that signs of a dry spell have already been observed in several areas across Negros Island, particularly affecting sugarcane plantations.
Barrogo, however, said it is still too early to determine the full extent of moisture stress on sugarcane crops.
He warned that if farmers are unable to provide sufficient water to their crops, sugarcane yields could decline in the coming months.
“We are working with the Sugar Regulatory Administration to push through with the cloudseeding operations,” Barrogo said.
The Negros Occidental provincial government is also preparing mitigation measures to cushion the impact of the anticipated El Niño conditions.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier said they are studying the possible use of disaster risk reduction and management funds to provide financial assistance to farmers affected by the dry spell, similar to interventions implemented during previous episodes of drought. | GB
