The Department of Agriculture in the Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) is seeking an additional P30 million for cloud seeding operations before the year ends, DA Regional Director Albert Barrogo said on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Crop damage in Negros Occidental due to moisture stress caused by dry conditions has reached P41.9 million as of Oct. 23, a report submitted by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson showed.
The report showed that rice field losses accounted for P38.2 million, while corn damage totaled P3.7 million.
The affected agricultural areas are located in the cities of San Carlos, Kabankalan, Cadiz and Sagay, and the towns of Toboso, Don Salvador Benedicto, Calatrava, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, La Castellana, Isabela, Cauayan and Ilog.
Barrogo noted that while recent rainfall provided relief to affected crops, recovery is unlikely in some areas in northern Negros.
He and the governor requested the additional P30 million from the Bureau of Soils and Waste Management to expand cloudseeding operations across Negros.
Barrogo said he hopes that operations can begin in December, when rice fields and high-value crops require water the most.
The proposed P30-million budget is intended to cover cloud seeding operations through April, aligning with the projected duration of the dry spell, he said.
Barrogo added that irrigated rice fields currently face no issues.