R

iko Kolo could only resign himself to his fate when confronting the fact that yields from his tomato crops, grown on a 2,000-square-meter plot, declined by 50 percent compared to last year.

The badly affected tomatoes can now fetch only Rp 20,000 (US$2.30) per bucket, compared to Rp 80,000 earlier.

High rainfall is to blame for these conditions. Water that inundated the farm caused plant roots to rot and die. “Even if they survived, the fruit would become stunted and eaten by worms,” said Riko, a father of four who lives in Boneana hamlet, Kupang regency, in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Tuesday.

In desperation, Riko has left his 2,400 tomato plants unattended for now. “We have tried various methods such as raising the patch higher and spraying fertilizer and pesticides, but the yields remain disappointing. Their leaves gradually wilt and then they die,” said Riko, 39.

According to Riko, about 500 tomato farmers in his village were facing the same problem.

“We could only harvest tomatoes eight times this year, compared to between 20 and 26 times last year when the yields were high,” he said.

These conditions were feared to cause food shortages given that a large part of productive farmland, which were previously rice and corn fields, have been converted to tomato farms.

In normal conditions, Riko could earn between Rp 22 million and Rp 30 million from his farm.

“This year, I could only earn Rp 12 million, while I have spent Rp 5 million for capital,” Riko said.

Tomato farmer Sandrin Patin, 42, only earned Rp 10 million from his 2,500-meter farm, compared to Rp 40 million last year.

“I suffered a harvest failure. I spent around Rp 11 million for capital but suffered a huge deficit. Excessive rainfall has caused us despair,” he said.

Not only tomato farmers, but a large number of corn and peanut farmers in Oematnunu, Kuanheun, Bolk and Nitneo villages have also suffered harvest failures.

“The plants appear to be flourishing but they turned out not to bear fruit after we pulled them from the ground. It’s likely due to excessive water. The yields are very disappointing,” said Kuanheun village farmer Eduard Baineo, 43.

Kupang’s Lasiana weather station head Purwanto said a large part of the province had experienced extreme weather since last year due to the La Nina phenomenon which continued to affect NTT’s weather.

“The wind is dominantly blowing from the west, which hazardously contains vapor. Rain remains a possibility in NTT but sporadically and locally,” Purwanto said.

The looming risk of harvest failure currently faced by people in NTT has become homework for Governor Frans Lebu Raya and Vice Governor Esthon Foennay, who vowed to turn NTT into a major corn-producing province during their term from 2008 to 2013.