ALOR SETAR, August 6 - The Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) does not plan to carry out cloud seeding operations because the Malaysian Meteorological Department has predicted that rainfall will increase in August, September and October.

MADA chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh said the cloud seeding operation (CSO) which was carried out for three days starting on July 29 took time to raise the dam's reservoir level.

"So when the cloud seeding happens, it doesn't increase tomorrow even if it rains, it doesn't increase the next day, even if it rains. So it takes time when the soil is dry for a long time; the first rain falls, it is absorbed into the soil.. . after being absorbed, next it enters the river stream and then enters the reservoirs", he told reporters in Alor Setar.

Until August 1, the MADA rain station recorded a reading of 30 millimeters of rain at the Pedu Dam and the Muda Dam as a result of the CSO that was carried out for three days starting on July 29.

MADA is hoping for more rain that will help to increase the water reservoir level at the three dams under its supervision.

As of yesterday, the water reservoir in the three dams is considered normal which is at 41.97 percent, involving 37 percent of the Pedu Dam, 7.4 percent of the Muda Dam and 80.76 percent of the Ahning Dam.