Negros launches cloud seeding to combat prolonged dry conditions

BACOLOD CITY — Cloud seeding flights have commenced across the Negros Island Region and Panay as local officials move to address a persistent dry spell impacting farming communities. The United Sugar Producers Federation reported Sunday that eight operational sorties had already been flown as part of the weather modification effort.

Manuel Lamata, president of the producers' federation, said the initiative represents a critical response to drought conditions threatening agricultural productivity in the region. The operations aim to seed clouds and encourage rainfall in areas where dry weather has created concerns for crop yields and water availability.

The Department of Agriculture has provided support for the cloud seeding program, recognizing the threat that prolonged dry conditions pose to the regional sugar industry and broader agricultural sector. Officials indicated that the operation would continue with additional sorties planned as weather conditions permit.

Cloud seeding, which involves dispersing particles into the atmosphere to stimulate precipitation, has become an increasingly common tool for disaster risk reduction in Southeast Asia during extended dry seasons. The Negros initiative reflects regional efforts to maintain agricultural production amid climate variability.