TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – The Department of Agriculture is studying the conduct of cloud seeding in Region 2 or Cagayan Valley due to lack of water from the El Niño weather phenomenon.
A DRONE flies over a ricefield in the City of Ilagan in Isabela. The Department of Agriculture will conduct cloud seeding in Region 2 to mitigate El Niño. (DA-2 FB)
Dr. Roberto Busania, regional technical director for operations and extension of DA-Region 2, said they are planning to hold cloud seeding operations next month.
Busania said they are eyeing corn and rice fields and an initial budget of P5 million to P7 has been allocated for the activity.
He said experts will give the go-signal on when cloud seeding can be conducted in target areas.
The DA-2 is coordinating with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), municipal agriculturists, and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) to provide guidance to farmers regarding weather conditions and El Niño.
Weatherman have forecast El Niño to peak in the country in April.