Cloud seeding to induce rain in June is still needed to help farmers in Negros Occidental prepare for the planting season, OIC Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola said on Thursday, May 30.
Genzola said the Bureau of Soils and Water Management is probably still finalizing its technical survey for cloud seeding, the province is still waiting for word on when it will start.
Although the rains have started it does not mean that there will be continuous downpours, she said.
Cloud seeding is needed to ensure sustained rain to help the farmers during the planting season, Genzola said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced on Wednesday the onset of the rainy season.
The occurrence of scattered rain showers, frequent thunderstorms, the passage of Typhoon “Aghon”, and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) over the past few days have brought significant rains over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas that signify the start of the rainy season in the country, it said.
Thee high chance of La Niña conditions to develop by the July-August-September period increases the likelihood of above-normal rainfall conditions in some areas of the country, especially towards the end of the year, PAGASA said.*