BACOLOD City — Sugar producers are pressing the government for urgent intervention as dry conditions linked to El Niño begin to threaten crop yields and rural livelihoods in key agricultural areas.
The United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (UNIFED) has urged the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental to immediately implement cloud seeding operations to counter worsening dry spells.
In separate letters sent to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, and Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, UNIFED President Manuel Lamata said insufficient rainfall is already taking a toll on sugarcane farms.
“The lack of sufficient rainfall is adversely affecting crop growth, reducing yield potential, and increasing the risk of substantial economic losses,” Lamata said.
Industry leaders warned that without immediate action, the drought could disrupt production cycles and strain the broader sugar supply chain.
The stakes are high for one of the country’s most vital agricultural sectors. The sugar industry supports hundreds of thousands of farmers and workers, particularly in Negros Island, the country’s sugar capital.
Lamata said prolonged dry conditions could severely impact not only current harvests but also future planting cycles, placing rural incomes at risk.
UNIFED is pushing for cloud seeding as a short-term but critical solution to ease water shortages, sustain irrigation systems, and stabilize crop conditions.
“Immediate cloud seeding intervention is crucial to help alleviate water scarcity and mitigate the negative impact of drought on sugarcane production,” Lamata emphasized, noting that early action could help preserve yields and prevent deeper losses in the months ahead./PN
