The Iloilo Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) advised farmers with harvestable crops vulnerable to rain to start harvesting in preparation for the cloud seeding set in Western Visayas next week.

PAO head Dr. Ildefonso Toledo informed Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. in a press conference that Iloilo is among the areas covered by the cloud seeding that will be undertaken by the Philippine Air Force and supervised by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM).

“At our end, we have already done our part in assisting the farmers. And that is the share of the national government as a gesture of helping us cushion the impact of the calamity we are experiencing,” Toledo said in a follow-up interview.

Toledo called for a meeting with municipal agriculture officers for awareness and consultation about cloud seeding so they can cascade to farmers in their areas.

He said other than harvesting mature crops vulnerable to rain, farmers are also advised to always refer to the forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (Pagasa) and not take risks.

The operation will take off in Silay City in Negros Occidental to look for seedable clouds, with rains expected to fall in Guimaras, Iloilo, Antique, and even Capiz.

The BSWM will fly back to Manila to finalize the logistics.

Damage and losses to the agriculture sector in Western Visayas, as per available data from the Office of the Civil Defense, reached P1.494 billion, with over 30,000 farmers and fisherfolk affected.  (PNA)