Cloud seeding starts in Davao del Sur
Published Apr 14, 2019 02:51 pm
By Antonio Colina IV
DAVAO CITY – Cloud seeding operations have already started in the province of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato, Soccsksargen since April 9 to cushion the effect of the dry spell on high-value crops, Jose D. Pascua, focal person for the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-11, said on Saturday.
Department of Agriculture (MANILA BULLETIN)
Pascua said that an aircraft from the Philippines Airforce (PAF) had been deployed to undertake the cloud seeding activities at the request of the local government units from April 9 to 11, to save the remaining high-value crops from El Niño.
He said the cloud seeding covered areas in Matanao, Magsaysay, and Digos City in Davao del Sur, and his agency has also coordinated with DA-Soccsksargen to cover portions of North Cotabato.
He said the cloud seeding targeted rice and corn fields, and other high value crops such as corn, cacao, coffee, and mango could be found.
The aircraft from PAF had five sorties since the start of the cloud seeding before it left for Mactan, Cebu on Friday for periodic maintenance, according to Pascua.
He claimed rain was reported by the LGUs shortly after the cloud seeding activities.
After spotting a seedable cloud, he said rain normally occurs 30 minutes after every activity.
He said cloud seeding would resume on Monday in Digos City, but the agency is still waiting for confirmation from the provincial agriculturist of the Compostela Valley province for similar activities.
“Hinihingi ko pa ang location. Hopefully by Monday meron ng coordination (I’m still asking for the location. Hopefully, by Monday, there
will be coordination),” Pascua said.
At least 17 provinces in Mindanao will be hit by a dry spell while 11 provinces by drought beginning end of April 2019, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported on March 22.
The dry spell would hit Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, North Cotabato, Saranga Agusan Del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Basilan, and Lanao del Sur.
The provinces that would be affected by drought are Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Misamis Occidental, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
According to PAGASA, dry spell occurs when there are three consecutive months of below normal (21 percent-60 percent reduction from average) rainfall conditions or two consecutive months of way below normal (more than 60 percent reduction from average) rainfall conditions while drought when there are three consecutive months of way below normal (60 percent reduction from average) or five consecutive months of below normal (21 percent-60 percent reduction from average) rainfall condition.
PAGASA also reported that the Mindanao provinces would be under normal rainfall condition this month and, except for Misamis Occidental and Dinagat Island provinces, the Mindanao regions would receive near-normal rainfall conditions by May.
Department of Agriculture (MANILA BULLETIN)
Pascua said that an aircraft from the Philippines Airforce (PAF) had been deployed to undertake the cloud seeding activities at the request of the local government units from April 9 to 11, to save the remaining high-value crops from El Niño.
He said the cloud seeding covered areas in Matanao, Magsaysay, and Digos City in Davao del Sur, and his agency has also coordinated with DA-Soccsksargen to cover portions of North Cotabato.
He said the cloud seeding targeted rice and corn fields, and other high value crops such as corn, cacao, coffee, and mango could be found.
The aircraft from PAF had five sorties since the start of the cloud seeding before it left for Mactan, Cebu on Friday for periodic maintenance, according to Pascua.
He claimed rain was reported by the LGUs shortly after the cloud seeding activities.
After spotting a seedable cloud, he said rain normally occurs 30 minutes after every activity.
He said cloud seeding would resume on Monday in Digos City, but the agency is still waiting for confirmation from the provincial agriculturist of the Compostela Valley province for similar activities.
“Hinihingi ko pa ang location. Hopefully by Monday meron ng coordination (I’m still asking for the location. Hopefully, by Monday, there
will be coordination),” Pascua said.
At least 17 provinces in Mindanao will be hit by a dry spell while 11 provinces by drought beginning end of April 2019, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported on March 22.
The dry spell would hit Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, North Cotabato, Saranga Agusan Del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Basilan, and Lanao del Sur.
The provinces that would be affected by drought are Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Misamis Occidental, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
According to PAGASA, dry spell occurs when there are three consecutive months of below normal (21 percent-60 percent reduction from average) rainfall conditions or two consecutive months of way below normal (more than 60 percent reduction from average) rainfall conditions while drought when there are three consecutive months of way below normal (60 percent reduction from average) or five consecutive months of below normal (21 percent-60 percent reduction from average) rainfall condition.
PAGASA also reported that the Mindanao provinces would be under normal rainfall condition this month and, except for Misamis Occidental and Dinagat Island provinces, the Mindanao regions would receive near-normal rainfall conditions by May.