The Department of Agriculture in the Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) is seeking an additional ₱30 million for cloudseeding 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 ₱41.9 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 ₱38.2 million, while corn damage totaled ₱3.7 million.
The affected agricultural areas are located in San Carlos City, Toboso, Don Salvador Benedicto, Calatrava, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, La Castellana, Isabela, Cauayan, Ilog, and Kabankalan City.
Barrogo said 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 ₱30 million from the Bureau of Soils and Waste Management (BSWM) 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 ₱30-million budget is intended to cover cloudseeding operations through April, aligning with the projected duration of the dry spell, he said.
Barrogo added that irrigated rice fields currently face no issues.*
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