Davao asks DA for cloud seeding

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 27 March) The City Agriculturists Office has asked the Department of Agriculture for a cloud seeding over Davao City, following a month-long dry spell that could potentially damage at least 7,000 hectares of crops.

In a letter to DA Regional Director Remelyn Recoter, City Agriculturist Rocelio T. Tabay attributed the dry spell to the El Nino phenomenon.

According to Tabay, the dry spell threatens to affect 11,151 farmers working in 7,075.15 hectares of farmlands in Paquibato, Marilog, Toril, Tugbok and Baguio Districts.

In a text message Thursday, Recoter said the agency would still have to validate the request.

There are other factors that needed to be considered before a request for crop seeding could be accommodated, she said, such as cloud formation, wind direction and standing crops.

The crop most affected by the dry spell are high value crops fruits, industrial crops, legumes, root crops and vegetables.

Fruits were at the most risk, with 2,718.46 hectares and 4,687 farmers potentially affected.

Corn, meanwhile, ranked second in terms of land area of crops being affected, at 2,449.55 hectares.

The CAO estimates that around 2,501 farmers would be affected by the dry spell.

Rainfed rice could also face a dry spell, with the department estimating 481.67 hectares being affected and 538 farmers.

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Davao asks DA for cloud seeding