Kazakhstan tries cloud seeding to ease drought in southern regions

A small aircraft has taken off from an airport in southern Kazakhstan on cloud seeding missions as part of the country's efforts to combat drought. Below the flight path, only dry steppes are visible, according to officials. Authorities have turned to the method to support farmland and water supplies amid below-average rainfall. Cloud seeding involves spraying specific chemicals into the atmosphere to encourage precipitation during dry periods. Kazakhstan's southern regions have faced serious water shortages in recent years due to declining rainfall and rising temperatures. The government is seeking alternative approaches to ease pressure on agricultural output and drinking water reserves. Local meteorological units said cloud seeding operations are carried out under suitable weather conditions and could contribute to increased rainfall. The effectiveness of the method continues to be debated among international scientific circles.