Negros Occ pleads for cloud seeding; drought hits P97.7M-worth of crops

Negros Occidental hit by dry spell. STOCK IMAGE/INQUIRER FILES

BACOLOD CITY — Local officials of Negros Occidental are asking the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) to reconsider its decision not to hold cloud seeding operations in the province where at least P97 million worth of crops have been damaged due to prolonged dry spell.

Both Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Rep. Emilio Yulo III of Negros Occidental’s 5th District called on the BSWM to review and reconsider its recommendation against cloud seeding in Negros Occidental.

“Cloud seeding would somehow help the drought hit crops in the province,” said Lacson in an interview early this week.

READ: Drought gripping Negros Occidental, says Pagasa

The BSWM has decided against cloud seeding due to lack of viable clouds and moisture in the province. Induced rains could also affect the 20,659 mango trees in fruit development in San Carlos City, and 2,752 trees in Guimaras.

Lacson said he spoke to Agriculture Regional Director Dennis Arpia to ask if the recommendation against cloud seeding could be reconsidered.

“Arpia’s response was that the experts have already said that there are no seedable clouds,” Lacson said.

READ: Drought may hit 30 areas in March due to El Niño – Pagasa

The governor was hoping even for a light rain that could provide respite to farmers whose farms had been badly affected by the drought caused by the El Niño.

The drought has affected 2,585 farmers in 20 out of 31 local government units in Negros Occidental where P97,788,037 worth of crops have been damaged as of April 2.

Damage to rice crops was pegged at P93,050,227, and corn, at P4,737,809, said Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola.