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Saturday, March 19, 2005
Agri dep't reviews proposal for cloud seeding in Iloilo
By Kathy Villalon Cinco
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is now reviewing the province's agricultural situation before deciding on whether to implement cloud seeding.
This is according to Regional Director Ricardo Oblena in the wake of decreasing water supply that could adversely affect crops.
Cloud seeding (also known as weather modification) is the deliberate treatment of certain clouds or cloud systems with the intent of affecting the precipitation process within those clouds.
This is done by introducing an ice-forming agent like silver iodide into some cloud regions. Its freezing process creates more moisture.
"I have instructed the provincial agricultural officers to re-assess and coordinate with their governors regarding their agricultural situation. It's raining in Aklan and Antique while here in Iloilo, it's not," he said.
Oblena said that based on their latest assessment, only 10 percent of farmers are into rice production. The rest have already diverted to short-term crops that do not need much water.
He added that according to Pag-asa, the El Niño is towards its end.
Oblena told Sun.Star Iloilo the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) general manager Lee Jayme Jalbuena approached him for the possibility of cloud seeding operations.
"We are hopeful that after we assess our agricultural crops, we can decide the soonest time possible. You see, cloud seeding is a hit and miss operation. We aren't very sure if the rainwater will go to Maasin watershed," he added.
Earlier, Jalbuena said the Maasin Dam in Brgy. Daja, Maasin, MIWD's source of water supply, has registered its lowest level and they fear that it could go lower.
Jalbuena said the dam's water level is still at 93.62 meters above sea level.
(March 19, 2005 issue)
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