Kupastuntas.co, Bandar Lampung - The Lampung Province Food and Horticulture Food Security Service (KPTPH) noted that 93 hectares of rice fields experienced drought due to the El Nino phenomenon. The area of dry rice fields is expected to continue to increase, because there are still a number of areas that have not reported this to the Lampung KPTPH Service.

Head of the Lampung Province KPTPH Service, Bani Ispriyanto, said that 93 hectares of dry rice fields were spread across several areas, namely Tulang Bawang (Tuba), Pringsewu, North Lampung (Lampura) and Tanggamus Regencies.

Bani said that although there were several areas experiencing drought, this did not have a significant impact on the decline in the amount of rice production in Lampung.

"Currently, approximately 200 thousand hectares are being planted during the gadu season. And only a few are dry, so it doesn't have much of an impact on the decline in the amount of rice production in Lampung," said Bani, Monday (4/9/2023).

He explained that 200 thousand hectares of land was planted in East Lampung, South Lampung, Tanggamus, Way Kanan, Central Lampung and Tulang Bawang regencies.

"In harvesting gadu on an area of 200 thousand hectares, it is estimated that the rough calculation of the production per hectare could reach 5 to 6 tons. Or if combined, around 1.2 million tons," he said.

To prevent the impact of the drought from becoming more widespread, his party has distributed 190 water pumps to farmer groups spread across 15 districts/cities.

"Farmers are currently still planting, although some are dry, they can still be overcome. We have distributed 190 water pumps to 15 districts/cities through farmer groups to suck water from rivers to irrigate their rice fields," he explained.

Bani explained, based on the report from the Mesuji Sekampung River Basin Center (BBWSMS), currently the water is still safe. Farmers are encouraged to plant according to a predetermined schedule.

"The water condition is still safe now, all that remains is to arrange it in the field. Later we will convey the planting schedule to BBWSMS so that when planting we can get water," he explained.

Bani explained that the Ministry of Agriculture will also provide seed and fertilizer assistance to farmers through the National Movement for the Acceleration of Rice Planting (Gernas).

His party only needs to arrange the irrigation so that farmers can get an adequate supply of water. Through the Gernas program, his party has prepared 36 thousand hectares of land to be planted with rice.

"The 36 thousand hectares of land are spread across six regions, namely East Lampung, South Lampung, Central Lampung, Tanggamus, Tulang Bawang and Way Kanan Regencies," he explained.

Meanwhile, the Metro City Food Security, Agriculture and Fisheries Service (DKP3) noted that 200 hectares of rice fields in Metro are threatened with crop failure due to lack of water supply.

Metro City DKP3 Head, Heri Wiratno said that his party had been anticipating this El Nino phenomenon since April 2023. Efforts made include mapping areas affected by El-Nino and sending letters to farmer groups.

Heri revealed that 200 hectares of rice fields were threatened with crop failure because farmers did not comply with DKP3 Metro's appeal asking them to plant rice before June 16 2023.

"There are around 200 hectares of rice fields that have the potential for crop failure. This is because farmers do not comply with our advice. Through letters we never support farmers planting rice later than June 16 2023. Because the irrigation committee wants planting to be accelerated. Those who plant later than June 16 2003 That's what is lacking water, which threatens to cause crop failure," he explained, Monday (4/9/2023).

However, his party has not been able to estimate the value of the loss from the hundreds of hectares of rice fields that are threatened with crop failure.

"Of course the losses will be reported later, because now it's just dry, there hasn't been any puso. So it's not certain that the entire crop will fail. But there are 200 hectares that have the potential to fail," he said.

Heri revealed that the rice fields threatened with crop failure were spread across 4 sub-districts in Metro including Purwoasri, Hadimulyo Timur, Yosodadi and Karangrejo.

Edi Suyarwan, a farmer in East Hadimulyo Village, Central Metro District, admitted that he only received water once during the gadu planting season. As a result, his rice fields are dry because they do not get a water supply.

"From the beginning of planting, my rice field only got water once. After that there was no more. I planted it before Eid Hajj in less than 3 days, I only got water once during that planting," he said.

Edi confirmed that his rice plants failed to harvest due to drought. "What is clear is that mine has a total of 100 percent crop failure. For others it may not be 100 percent because there are swamps so we can still get water supply," he said.

He hopes the government can provide assistance to farmers who experience crop failure. So that it can ease the burden on farmers and farmers can plant next growing season.

"Actually, it's a shame when grain prices rise, we actually experience crop failure. This will certainly have an impact on our economy. What is clear later is that if we want to plant again, we don't have any more capital. If the government provides assistance, such as seeds or fertilizer, we are very grateful," he added. .

Farmers in South Lampung Regency (Lamsel) also experienced crop failure. The long dry season has resulted in tens of hectares of rice plants being threatened with crop failure because they have been experiencing drought for the past month or so.

Drought rice fields cause rice plants that are only six weeks old to start turning yellow because they don't get a water supply.

The condition of rice plants is getting worse due to extreme weather, causing them to dry out quickly. Apart from that, the land in the residents' rice fields looks cracked.

Farmers are worried that if it doesn't rain in the next two weeks, the rice crop could fail.

Nardi, a farmer in Way Sidomukti Village, Ketapang District, South Lampung, said that currently rice plants in his area only rely on rainwater.

“Irrigation does not flow to people's rice fields because they are experiencing drought. "Farmers now only rely on rainwater to irrigate tens of hectares of rice fields," he said, Sunday (3/9/2023).

He said that for the past month the weather conditions have been very hot as a result of El Nino. Due to lack of water, the rice plants are starting to turn yellow as a sign that they will soon die from drought if there is no water supply.

"If it doesn't rain these weeks, it's certain that the harvest will fail. This year's dry season has dried up most of the agricultural land and resulted in cracks in the soil in the paddy fields planted with rice. Farmers can only surrender to the situation while hoping for rain as soon as possible. come," he said.

Wawan, another farmer in Way Sidomukti Village, hopes that the South Lampung Regency Government can provide solutions such as constructing drilled wells to help farmers get water supply for their rice plants.

"This year's long dry season has caused tens of hectares of rice fields in Way Sidomukti Village to be threatened with crop failure. "Six week old rice plants are turning yellow due to not getting a water supply," he said. (*)

This news has been published in the Kupas Tuntas daily newspaper edition of Tuesday 5 September 2023 with the title "KPTPH Lampung Service Reveals 93 Hectares of Drought Paddy Fields"