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Prolonged drought could destroy Cirebon'€™s rice fields

Thousands of hectares (ha) of rice fields in Cirebon regency, West Java, are at risk of crop failure due to drought

Nana Rukmana (The Jakarta Post)
Cirebon
Mon, September 15, 2014

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Prolonged drought could destroy Cirebon'€™s rice fields

T

housands of hectares (ha) of rice fields in Cirebon regency, West Java, are at risk of crop failure due to drought.

Cirebon regency'€™s Agriculture, Livestock and Plantation Office head Ali Effendi said on Thursday that the droughts had the potential to affect 17,000 ha of around 85,000 ha of rice fields.

They are located in the 12 districts of Kapetakan, Suranenggala, Gunungjati, Panguragan, Gegesik, Pangenan, Losari, Pabedilan, Astanajapura, Gebang, Mundu and Kaliwedi.

The worst drought is in Kapetakan district, where 3,000 ha of paddy fields are located.

'€œFarmers in the areas have faced difficulties obtaining water for rice fields during the past two weeks. Paddy that is still 30-50 days old could be lost [if the water crisis continues],'€ Ali said.

He said the water crisis was caused by a declining water volume from the Bendung Rentang reservoir ahead of the dry season.

The reservoir, located in Jatitujuh district, Majalengka regency, is one of the main water sources to irrigate rice fields in Cirebon regency.

'€œThe water supply has dropped drastically due to the small water volume from the Bendung Rentang reservoir,'€ said Ali.

Ali said he was afraid farmers in the regency would not be able to harvest their crops if they failed to get water in the next few days.

Kasiman, a farmer in Mundu district, said he was forced to rent an electric pump to secure water for his 1-ha farm.

'€œThe rental fees for pumps are between Rp 25,000 [US$2.10] and Rp 30,000 per hour and we have to rent a pump for at least six hours to irrigate the field,'€ said Kasiman.

He said it was the only way to save his crops. '€œWithout water, my paddy will die,'€ he said.

Ali said it was difficult to overcome the water crisis in the regency'€™s rice fields, as they were located far from the irrigation network.

'€œThe area is located at the northernmost end of Cirebon regency, while the water source comes from Bendung Rentang reservoir in the south,'€ said Ali.

'€œIf the reservoir recedes, accessing a water supply will surely be difficult.'€

Cirebon regency is one of West Java'€™s major rice production centers.

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