Negros Occidental Provincial Agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan yesterday said cloud-seeding operation in the second quarter of the year may not be necessary due to recent favorable weather condition.

Unlike last year when prolonged dry spell made it necessary for the provincial government to conduct cloud seeding operations, Tabianan said his office has monitored sporadic rainfall in different areas of the province.

Non-irrigated areas have benefited from the intermittent rainfall although most farm lots are on a “resting period”, he said.

Tabianan also assured the public that Negros Occidental has 100,000 hectares of land planted with rice and 50 percent are well-irrigated, ensuring sufficient rice supply.

There are still harvestable rice areas in the countryside and harvest will continue until May to replenish the existing buffer stock that was projected to last for 60 days, he said.

Meanwhile, Tabianan also said that the increasing prices of rice in the market is actually good news to farmers who have not increased their prices for almost 10 years.

What will be disadvantageous is when the farmers sell their produce to unscrupulous traders who are out to triple their profit by selling rice at a much higher price in the market, he said.

Tabianan appealed to the rice farmers to be vigilant and not to allow themselves to be exploited by the traders.*NAB

back to top