The help of the Department of Agriculture, Sugar Regulatory Administration, and provincial government of Negros Occidental was sought to implement immediate cloud seeding operations, in response to the ongoing dry conditions brought about by the onset of the El Niño.
Manuel Manuel Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (UNIFED), in letters sent to Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, said “the lack of sufficient rainfall is adversely affecting crop growth, reducing yield potential, and increasing the risk of substantial economic losses.”
Lamata said that the sugar industry, particularly the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of sugar farmers and workers, will face significant challenges, if there is no intervention.
“Immediate cloud seeding intervention is crucial to help alleviate water scarcity, support irrigation needs and mitigate the negative impact of drought on sugarcane production,” Lamata said, adding that “early intervention will not only help preserve current crops but also ensure the stability and sustainability of the sugar industry in the coming months.*
