Rainfall Below Normal, BMKG Says Buton Island Experiences Meteorological Drought

Head of BMKG Betoambari Baubau Meteorological Station, Hadi Setiawan. (ANTARA/HO Betoambari Baubau Meteorological Station)

BUTON - Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said that Buton Island in Southeast Sulawesi Province has experienced a meteorological drought. Head of BMKG Betoambari Meteorological Station Baubau Hadi Setiawan said the meteorological drought that occurred due to rainfall below normal was predicted to last until October 2023 on Buton Island. "His status has now entered meteorological drought status. This means that it needs to be watched out for, it may be that his status will increase higher, because it is estimated that El-Nino will continue until October, meaning that the rain is not there, so it is still dry," Hadi said in a written statement received in Buton, Antara, Friday, September 1. Meteorological drought can have an impact on food crop farming business activities, posing a risk of crop failure. The relevant regional apparatus organizations, according to him, need to coordinate to minimize the impact of meteorological drought on agricultural and food production business activities.

"It is better between agencies to coordinate with each other in terms of dealing with this drought, because if this rain does not fall until October, the impact will be long," said Hadi.