DA seeks P6.2 million for cloud seeding as Caraga drought deepens

The Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office in Caraga has requested P6.2 million in funding to conduct cloud seeding operations as the region grapples with an intensifying drought crisis. The funding request comes as farmers across the eastern Mindanao region face mounting agricultural losses and communities experience critical water shortages.

The prolonged dry spell has already impacted multiple municipalities in Caraga, affecting local water sources and threatening food production across the agricultural region. The DA's cloud seeding initiative is intended to induce rainfall and provide immediate relief to drought-stricken areas.

Cloud seeding, a weather modification technique that involves dispersing substances into clouds to encourage precipitation, has been deployed in the Philippines during previous drought emergencies. The technique is viewed as a short-term intervention while longer-term water management and climate adaptation strategies are being developed.

The request underscores growing concerns about climate-related water stress in Mindanao, where irregular rainfall patterns have become increasingly common. Regional agricultural officials are monitoring the situation closely as the dry season continues, with additional support measures potentially being considered if drought conditions worsen further.