Governor Mahyeldi Reminds Potential For Meteorological Drought In West Sumatra

West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi reminded the OPD, local governments and communities to prepare for the meteorological drought that is expected to hit the province in June.

"All parties need to strengthen preparedness regarding the threat of drought," he said in Padang, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, June 5.

In the agricultural sector, Mahyeldi asked related parties to identify areas that have the potential to be affected by drought so that anticipatory steps can be taken.

"The public must also be given an understanding regarding the impact of meteorological drought so that it can save on the use of clean water and also carry out agricultural cultivation that does not require a lot of water," he said.

In agricultural areas that are expected to be affected by drought, logistics and equipment such as clean water reservoirs and water pumps are needed to help the community.

Meanwhile, the Head of the West Sumatra Food Crops and Horticulture Protection Center (BPTPH), Suardi, said that his party had prepared steps to anticipate crop failure due to drought in the area.

"We send the team to vulnerable locations to provide assistance to farmers related to drought. In addition to helping determine planting times so that potential crop failure can be suppressed, it also provides an understanding of plants that are more resistant in dry conditions," he said.

The team also provides education about pests and plant diseases that often threaten in the dry season and efforts that can be done to ward them off.

"We continue to monitor agricultural land in areas that have the potential to be affected by the dry season. We prepare water pumps for emergency conditions, to increase water from available sources. We can also help wells probe to help flow agricultural land," he said.

In addition, BPTPH also builds reservoirs as a measure to anticipate drought in a number of areas.