By Edwin Fernandez/ PNA
COTABATO CITY – With the dry spell continuously taking its toll on farmers and agricultural crops, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 12 or Soccsksargen will embark on cloud seeding operations in the region to cushion the impact of El Niño phenomenon.
Milagros Casis, DA-12 director, said Wednesday the agency has allocated PHP2.5-million for the operation aimed at inducing rains to cushion the impact of the dry spell.
“We are currently processing some more documents in order for us to kick start the cloud seeding operation together with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management,” Casis said.
“Agricultural lands have started to dry up,” she added.
The DA-12 is eyeing 40 sorties or rounds of cloud seeding across the Soccsksargen Region that covers the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani, including the cities therein of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronadal, and General Santos.
“This intervention forms part of our preparation and mitigation activities in line with the anticipated full-blown effect of the (extreme weather) phenomenon,” Casis added.
Recently, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has released an advisory of an upcoming weak El Niño effect and the decreasing rainfall amount starting this month.
However, the low rainfall amount has been observed in this region as early as late January.
In North Cotabato, at least four towns have declared a state of calamity due to the dry spell while 24 of 40 villages of Kidapawan City have felt the brunt of intense heat.
Water rationing is also in progress in at least five villages of Kidapawan City as rivers and springs have started to dry up.
Casis said DA-12 will no longer wait for the next PAGASA advisory and prepare to conduct rain-inducing activities.
Ray Embajador, DA-12 field operations division officer-in-charge, disclosed that 9,000 bags of palay seeds from the DA’s Quick Response Fund are ready for distribution to severely affected areas for rehabilitation.
The seed intervention, however, would only be released to areas validated by the agency for rehabilitation.
“Amid the declaration of several municipalities under a state of calamity in the region, we will still subject the areas for validation,” Embajador said.
The DA noted that it is still validating reports on the number of farmers and agricultural areas severely hit by the dry spell.
As in the past, the DA advised farmers to prudently select rice varieties or plant legumes and root crops such as cassava, camote, and even watermelon since these are drought-resilient crops.
