• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Damage due to drought has further increased to P97.788 million, affecting 135 barangays of 19 towns and cities of Negros Occidental, a report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist as of March 27 showed.
A total of 2,585 farmers have been affected while the damaged crop area has reached 2,189.06 hectares.
In a joint assessment pre-cloud seeding operation report, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) has not recommended the conduct of cloud seeding operation in Negros Occidental.
It will adversely affect the mango plantations in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, and Guimaras that has 20,659 trees, both induced and in fruit development.
It added that cashew nut production in Guimaras has a total of 418 hectares at flowering to fruit development stage.
BSWM said that cloud seeding operation will not result in light moderate rains from March to April due lack of moisture and less seedable clouds in Negros Occidental.
“Upon the review and deliberation of all data, ground assessment and interview, it said that the conduct of the cloud seeding operation is not recommended,” Lacson said.
The governor joined Fifth District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo in asking the BSWM to reconsider its recommendation.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Western Visayas reported that it has started the distribution of 900 food packs to drought-affected farmers in 14 barangays of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. | GB
