As A Result Of The Long Drought, The Lebak Agriculture Service Recorded 34 Hectares Of Rice Crops Failed To Harvest

Head of the Production Division of the Lebak Regency Agriculture Service, Deni Iskandar. ANTARA/Mansyur

LEBAK - 34 hectares of rice plants in Lebak Regency, Banten are confirmed to have failed to harvest after the lack of irrigation due to the long dry season that occurred. "We recorded 35 hectares of rice plants aged between 50-80 days after planting dead and crop failure," said Lebak Regency Agriculture Service Head Deni Iskandar in Lebak, Friday, October 27. Farmers who experienced crop failure, he added, have been reported to the Government of Lebak Regency, Banten Province and the Ministry of Agriculture to get production facilities assistance so that it can ease their economic burden. The distribution of aid includes 25 kilograms of unhulled rice seeds per hectare as well as a pantek pump for irrigation and other assistance. It is very likely that the farmer who was affected by El Nino's weather could carry out a planting movement in November 2023 following the arrival of the rainy season according to a report by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). "We hope that farmers can accelerate planting in order to increase food productivity and increase the economy of farmers," said Deni. According to him, of the 35 hectares of rice crops that failed to harvest, it is certain that farmers will suffer losses of up to Rp350 million due to the usual production of an average of Rp10 million per hectare. The government will certainly provide assistance to them so that they can cover the cost of losses by accelerating planting. Field extension officers have identified locations affected by crop failure by installing a pantek pump to meet the availability of water supplies. "We ask farmers to accelerate planting during the rainy season," Deni added. The head of the Sukabungah Farmers Group, Tambakbaya Village, Lebak Ruhiana Regency, said that farmers in his area failed to harvest. If it is based on calculations, it should be harvested in November.

"We welcome the assistance of grain seeds and a pantek pump so that the November 2023 planting movement can produce crops," he explained.