Cloud seeding seeks to save corn crops

TUGUEGARAO CITY: The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) said the damage to corn crops in the region had reached P180 million, thus warranting the need for cloud seeding operations.

Guesting at the Director’s Hour hosted by Ding Fugaban over DWDA Radio, Roberto Claro Busania, DA Region 2 technical director for operations and extension, said Cagayan Valley contributes 1.9 million metric tons (MT) to the national production, which is 6 million MT.

Paul Vincent Balao of the Regional Corn Program said that 241,729.54 hectares had been planted with corn, which could generate a yield of more than 1.1 million metric tons.

Meanwhile, Rose Mary Aquino, DA Region 2 OIC regional executive director, said that the cloud seeding operations aimed to save corn farms.

Aquino said the CSO conducted with the Bureau of Soil and Water Management and the Philippine Air Force were “location specific.”

“The precipitation experienced last Friday in most areas of Cagayan Valley was not because of cloud seeding. The targets considered in the operation are corn-producing areas,” she said.

Busania also said the sorties have always been within the corn area grid.

“Thus, the rain experienced by Cagayan Valley on Friday, March 8, 2024, must have been natural precipitation and was not a result therefrom,” he said.

Busania said the region was the top producer of corn, and “for this consideration, the cloud seeding operation will be conducted to save the corn plants which are in the vegetative and reproductive stage against the lash of El Nino.”

“We have given the advisory in August last year and emphasized that we have to prepare for the onslaught of the El Niño,” he said.

Daisy Saldo, DA Region 2 CSO coordinator, said Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya areas were “not in the target list” for cloud seeding last Friday and that only Peñablanca and Iguig towns were targeted.

“We are very particular with the requested corn areas, and we always consider the weather outlook. Last Friday, March 8, 2024, the Pagasa forecasted the effects of northeast monsoon and easterlies, and the ground sky and cloud spotters sent us reports of areas with precipitation,” Saldo said.

The DA in Region 2 said on February 25, 4 millimeters (mm) of rainfall was recorded at 2 p.m. in Tuguegarao City, with light rains in Divisoria, Enrile town in Cagayan and Divisoria, Santa Maria town in Isabela.

Also on March 2, 0.2 mm of rainfall was recorded at 2 p.m. in Tuguegarao City, Peñablanca and Iguig towns in Cagayan.