Politics · Philippines Bureau
SRA allocates P13M for cloud-seeding to protect sugar crops
The Sugar Regulatory Administration announced plans to spend P13 million on a second phase of cloud-seeding operations in November to shield sugar lands from the anticipated effects of a Super El Niño weather phenomenon.
LSN Philippines ·
BACOLOD CITY — The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is moving forward with cloud-seeding initiatives to mitigate drought risks facing the nation's sugar industry as weather forecasts point to a severe El Niño pattern.
SRA Board Member David Andrew Sanson announced Friday that the agency has allocated P13 million for the second phase of cloud-seeding operations, scheduled to commence in November. The measure forms part of the SRA's broader strategy to protect sugar plantations from anticipated dry conditions.
Cloud-seeding technology involves dispersing substances into clouds to encourage rainfall, a technique increasingly deployed across agricultural regions vulnerable to prolonged drought. The allocation underscores growing concerns within the sugar sector regarding climate variability and its potential impact on crop yields during the dry season.
The SRA's intervention reflects broader efforts by agricultural authorities to safeguard key commodity sectors through weather modification programs. Industry analysts note that consistent rainfall remains critical for sugarcane cultivation, particularly during crucial growth phases when moisture stress can significantly diminish production volumes.