Can Cloud Seeding Bring Relief? Karnataka Bets ₹28.52 Crore on Artificial Rain

Karnataka is turning to cloud seeding as a response to a weak monsoon, rainfall deficits and drought-like conditions across the state. The government has approved a ₹28.52-crore programme aimed at protecting standing crops and easing water stress during 2026-27.

Rainfall deficiency has been reported in 178 taluks across 27 districts. The state’s deficit stood at 42% at the end of June and 29% by the end of July, according to officials. With sowing completed in several areas, prolonged dry spells could damage crops and intensify pressure on drinking-water supplies.

Cloud seeding cannot create rain from clear skies. It works by introducing particles into suitable, moisture-bearing clouds to encourage water droplets or ice crystals to grow large enough to fall as precipitation. Salt-based hygroscopic materials can stimulate droplet growth in warmer clouds, while silver iodide, dry ice or other glaciogenic agents can encourage ice formation in colder clouds.

The programme will run for 60 days, covering about 200 flying hours, with flights operating between 8 am and 6 pm. Operations will span Karnataka’s four revenue divisions and target suitable clouds, with rainfall expected within a 15-km radius of seeded areas.

Two committees will provide oversight. The Monitoring Committee, chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, will supervise implementation and coordination. The Technical Advisory and Evaluation Committee, headed by the KSNDMC Director and involving representatives from the Agriculture Department, IMD, KSRSAC and other institutions, will provide guidance and evaluate results.

The potential payoff is: additional rain could improve soil moisture, support standing crops, replenish water sources and help drought-affected communities. But outcomes are weather-dependent. Karnataka’s earlier cloud-seeding efforts have produced mixed results; officials have cited past success rates of around 18-20%, while the government now considers a 30% success rate worthwhile.

The programme therefore represents a calculated attempt to supplement rainfall, not replace it. Its value will ultimately depend on scientific targeting, transparent evaluation and whether seeded clouds deliver measurable additional rainfall where farmers and water-stressed communities need it most.