Rice Fields in Rorotan Getting Drought, Farmers Need Help

About 40 percent of 390 hectares of rice fields in Rorotan Urban Village, Cilincing Sub-District, North Jakarta, threatened by drought following the dry season lately.

We are confused because water volume decreases. And due to lack of water supply, we predict the harvest would decline

In Rorotan, rice fields are managed by the locals. To supply water for the rice fields, the farmers rely on water from Armain River connecting channel (PHB) and Rorotan Irrigation. But due to dry season, water debit from both channels is decreasing, causing the farmers had to divide irrigation system to get optimal water flows.

Chairman of Rorotan Farmers Group Association (Gapoktan), Abdul Khadir, said that if there was no solution, the rice harvest will be disturbed since the farmers are now entering planting season.

Vegetable Farmers in West Jakarta Experiencing Harvest Failure

“We’re just beginning to plant which requires an ample supply of water. That’s why we are confused because water volume decreases. And due to lack of water supply, we predict the harvest would decline,” he uttered, Saturday (10/18).

Therefore, Khadir hopes the government would willing to give assistance in form of providing pumps to suck water from the East Flood Canal (KBT) as alternative.

Responding on this matter, Head of North Jakarta Livestock and Forestry Sub-Department, Khairul Sidik, promised to visit the location of the rice fields to know the problem and anticipate drought.

“At this time, we are having trouble finding water supplies. Next year, we will allocate budget to buy two portable pumps to help the farmers in Rorotan,” he stated.