TUGUEGARAO CITY — Targeted cloud seeding operations jointly conducted across Cagayan Valley have successfully induced light to moderate rainfall over drought-stressed farmlands and the targeted key Magat watersheds, offering critical relief to agricultural communities facing prolonged dry spell conditions.
El Niño continues to threaten food production, drying up about 31,000 hectares of rice lands, as of July 2026, served by the National Irrigation Administration–Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS) in Isabela.
To help farmers cope with the prolonged dry spell, the DA Regional Field Office 2 has earmarked 40,000 kilograms of mung bean seeds for about 8,000 farmers and is preparing seeds for watermelon, glutinous white corn and onion. The alternative crops require less water and mature faster than rice, enabling farmers to earn income while irrigation remains limited.
The inter-agency initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 2 (DA RFO 2) in close coordination with the Philippine Air Force (PAF), the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), closely coordinating with the different Provincial Local Government Units (PLGUs) and DRRM/OCD targeted Magat watershed and overhead Magat.
Aerial sorties dispatched personnel from the PAF aboard a Piper Cub specialized aircraft to disperse vacuum-dried sodium chloride (salt) onto seedable cumulus cloud formations at altitudes of roughly 4,500 feet.
DA RFO2, PAF and BSWM technical teams continuously provided real-time meteorological forecasts, radar tracking, and cloud density assessments to identify optimal flight paths and atmospheric conditions prior to salt dispersal. The CSOps yielded 6.07 mm, based on 24-hour recorded RF within the Magat Watershed on July 27, 2026 and light precipitation in neighboring areas.
The water elevation at Magat Dam slightly recovered to 161.21 meters above sea level (masl) following initial rollouts of coordinated cloud-seeding operations and light isolated rains over the basin.
The situation has improved compared to previous days, but Magat Dam is not yet at a comfortable water level. Continued rains over the watershed are important to ensure enough water for irrigation during the coming cropping season.
The resulting precipitation directly benefited key agricultural areas in Southern Cagayan, Northern and Central Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya, where standing corn and rice crops were entering crucial vegetative and reproductive stages.
Farmers observed that the rainfall helped lower ground temperatures and replenish depleted soil moisture, cushioning the immediate and relentless impact of low rainfall on local food production.
In addition to providing immediate moisture to standing crops, the cloud seeding sorties aimed to recharge inflows into the Magat Reservoir, the primary source of irrigation water for tens of thousands of hectares under the NIA network.
Agriculture officials affirmed that joint monitoring teams will continue tracking local atmospheric data and cloud cover to conduct follow-up cloud seeding sorties as weather conditions permit, ensuring sustained water supply and protecting farming livelihoods across the valley.
Cloud seeding operation’s scattered rains have helped alleviate severe drought in southern Cagayan, Northern Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya, according to DA Regional Executive Director Rose Mary G. Aquino.
Aquino noted that rainfall cushions the initial blow of El Niño by supplying crops with necessary rain and temperature relief.
Meanwhile, successful cloud seeding depends on critical variables like timing and wind direction, according to DA Agricultural Engineer Daisy Saldo. To maximize results over target agricultural areas, her team collaborates closely with partner agencies via online monitoring sessions to evaluate cloud formations before launch.
Authorities have allocated 30 flying hours for the cloud seeding campaign, which will run through September to help restore and sustain the reservoir’s water level during the planting season.
Written by: Ferdinand Cortez
Photos by: Philippine Air Force