Cotabato farmers looking into cloud seeding to curb effects of dry spell

KORONADAL CITY – The dry spell that has been affecting several Mindanao areas have already damaged at least P155 million in agricultural crops in the provinces of Cotabato and South Cotabato, officials said.

As the situation continues to worsen, agriculture officials said they were now seriously considering the conduct of cloud seeding operation to salvage surviving crops, even if the measure entails huge expenses.

Engineer Eliseo Mangliwan, North Cotabato provincial agriculturist, said the damage to agricultural crops in the province was estimated at P68 million since the dry spell started early this year.

READ: North Cotabato speeds up construction of water systems amid dry spell

In addition to rice and corn, high value crops such as banana, cacao and coffee had also wilted beyond recovery.

Mangliwan said the drought has so far affected 4,539 farmers.

“To save crops planted just last month, we recommended to the Department of Agriculture 12 and the provincial government the conduct of cloud seeding operations to induce rains,” he said.

In South Cotabato, an agriculture official said the drought has destroyed P87.7 million worth of high value crops.

Justina Navarette, South Cotabato provincial agriculturist, said the dry spell has already dried up 1,379 hectares of corn fields and 280 hectares of rice fields.

Navarette said the dry spell also triggered attacks by rodents, which worsened the plight of farmers in the province.

READ: Animal deaths reported due to dry spell

As the dry spell continues to dry up some water sources, the provincial government of North Cotabato said it was trying to put up as many water systems to ensure residents of safe supply of drinking water.

Among the water systems recently completed and turned over was the one built in Barangay Perez in Kidapawan City, where the local water district admitted that the dry spell was threatening the city’s sources of water, and urged residents to reduce, reuse or recycle water.

The provincial governor’s office said the construction of the water systems would alleviate the problem on water shortage in villages.

Similar projects had also been recently turned over to Barangay Libertad and Barangay Biangan in Makilala town and in Magpet town.

North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza said water systems were “what the people need most and they have it now.” IDL