March 24, 2015
Visayan Daily Star | http://goo.gl/PYeqCj
The Sugar Regulatory Administration is requesting the Negros Occidental government to hasten its cloud-seeding operation to mitigate the effect of the prolonged dryspell in the province.
In a letter to Gov. Alfredo Marañon, Jr. coursed through the office of Provincial Agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan, Administrator Ma. Regina Martin-Bautista, said the request of SRA for cloud-seeding is imperative so the next cropping season will not be affected.
Marañon yesterday said the provincial government has requested the Department of Agriculture for cloud-seeding assistance. The provincial government also plans to buy a small aircraft for its cloudseeding operations, he said.
The total area planted to sugarcane in Negros Occidental is 188,569.66 hectares, and, except for Lopez and Sagay-Danao Mill District where 50 percent of the area is affected, the rest of those in the district are in great need of cloud-seeding, Martin said.
SRA records further show that priority areas for the cloud-seeding operation will be about 69,582.39 hectares of sugarcane plantation in southern Negros; 52,528.00 hectares for Central Negros; and 48,798.56 for northern Negros.
Panay areas with priority for cloud-seeding are estimated at 30,764.13 hectares; Bogo-Medellin – 7,895.00; and Ormoc – 8,127.00*