THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) in the SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato-Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos City) is preparing to conduct cloud seeding operations amid the onset of a weak El Niño and a forecast of below normal rainfall in the coming months. DA Regional Director Milagros C. Casis, in a statement, said they already allocated P2.5 million for the intervention. “We are just processing some more documents in order for us to kick-start the cloud seeding operations together with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management,” Ms. Casis said. A total of 40 rounds of cloud seeding will be conducted around the region. Meanwhile, 9,000 bags of palay seeds from the DA’s Quick Response Fund are also ready for distribution in areas that could be affected by the natural calamity. Field Operations Division Officer-in-Charge Ray Embajador said these planting materials will only be released to areas validated by the agency for rehabilitation. “Although there were already municipalities which declared state of calamity in the region, we will still subject the areas for validation,” Mr. Embajador noted. He also advised farmers to select rice varieties that could better withstand the weather condition, or plant legumes and root crops such as cassava, camote, and even watermelon, which are drought-resilient crops.

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