Terik Kemarau 2023 Ancam 201 Hectare Sawah Di Tangerang Alami Puso

Illustration. A resident crosses a rice field hit by drought due to dryness in Cibiuk Kaler Village, Garut Regency, Sunday (4/8/2019). (Feri Purnama)

BANTEN - The Department of Agriculture and Food Security (DPKP) of Tangerang Regency, Banten Province, noted that around 201 hectares of rice fields in its area are threatened with puso or crop failure due to being affected by the long dry season this year.

"What is threatened by the puso is about 201 hectares of rice fields, the position of the rice fields is drought because it has been without water during this dry season," said the Head of the Tangerang Regency DPKP, Asep Jatnika in Tangerang, Thursday, August 31.

He said that of the 201 hectares of rice fields that were threatened with crop failure, based on data obtained from the field, it showed that the area of agriculture was located in 12 sub-districts.

The dozens of rice fields are such as in Cikupa, Sindang Jaya, Cisoka, Jambe, Tigaraksa, Jayanti, Kresek, Sukamulya, Gunung Kaler, Mekar Baru, Kronjo and Panongan.

"That's where the plants are threatened. And the area still relies on water from irrigation, rainwater and sand dug," he said.

Asep also said that if the 201 hectares of land could be threatened with failure to produce as much as 1,200 tons of unhulled rice. "But of the hundreds of lands, it has been confirmed that there are 15 hectares of puso," he said.

However, the threat of crop failure has had an impact on the value of grain prices in the region. Which, currently the value of harvested dry grain (GKP) is IDR 6,700 per kg and dry milling unhulled rice (GKG) is IDR 7,000 per kg with an average increase of IDR 500.

"The previous price was around Rp. 6,000 - Rp. 6,500. The dry milling unhulled rice was Rp. 500 per kilogram. This was followed by an increase in medium rice of Rp. 12,000-Rp. 14,000," he said.

He added that the anticipatory steps taken by the local government for this impact were to prepare 5 tons of ciherang rice seeds to be distributed to affected farmers.

Then, prepare the pumping which is handed over to farmer groups with a total of 16 pumps.

"If there are farmers who do not have a water source, but there is no tool, we have coordinated with the province to add assistance," he concluded.