• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is eyeing at least three more cloudseeding operations in Negros Island using an estimated P30 million in funding to help farmers cope with the prolonged dry spell expected from El Niño.
In an interview on Wednesday, Oct. 28, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he was informed by DA-Negros Island Region Executive Director Jose Albert Barrogo that funding had been secured for future cloudseeding operations.
Authorities are awaiting the identification of the agency that will undertake the bidding process, he added.
Lacson said the Sugar Regulatory Administration could help identify the areas that would be prioritized for the next cloudseeding operations.
He added that the P30-million allocation would be sufficient to sustain the operations until the effects of El Niño subside, eliminating the need for the provincial government to allocate additional funds for the initiative.
The proposed operations come as agricultural damage caused by moisture stress in Negros Occidental reached P41.98 million as of Oct. 23, data of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist showed.
Affected are 1,511.46 hectares of farmland and 2,403 farmers in 69 barangays across 14 local government units.
Rice accounted for P38.26 million in losses while corn damage reached P3.72 million.
Lacson expressed support for a possible declaration of a national state of calamity in anticipation of the projected Super El Niño, saying it could help make funds available to address its impact on affected communities.
He said that current weather conditions remained favorable for agriculture, particularly sugarcane, because of the combination of rainfall and sunlight.
However, the governor cautioned that the situation could change once El Niño fully affects the province, potentially bringing an extended period of dry weather that would threaten agricultural production. | GPB
