Farmers In Aceh Can Only Rub Their Chests, 426 Hectares Of Rice Fields Are Threatened With Puso Due To Flooding

Documentation - Farmers save rice seeds that were washed away by the flood in the rice fields of Alue Cek Doi Village, Julok District, East Aceh. BETWEEN PHOTOS/Syifa Yulinnas

ACEH - The Agriculture and Food Office of North Aceh Regency stated that at least 426 hectares (ha) of farmers' rice crops in the district were threatened with crop failure or puso due to flooding.

"To date, 426 hectares of rice crops have been flooded and are in danger of puso or crop failure," said Acting Head of the North Aceh Regency Agriculture and Food Service Erwandi in Lhokseumawe, as reported by Antara, Tuesday, November 16.

Erwandi detailed that the flooded rice fields were in Banda Baro District with an area of 41 hectares, Matang Kuli District with an area of 192 hectares.

Then, Pirak Timu District with an area of 173 hectares, Simpang Keramat District with an area of 15 hectares and Syamtalira Bayu District with an area of five hectares.

"Puso rice occurs when it is submerged for at least three days without receding. For that, we are waiting for a few more days to see if there are puso rice and this will continue to be monitored by officers," said Erwandi. Erwandi said officers continue to monitor flooded rice fields. From this monitoring, two hectares of rice plants owned by farmers have been confirmed to have failed due to flooding.

Currently, said Erwandi, the flood has receded. However, if the flood continues to submerge the farmers' rice plants in the next few days, it is certain that 426 hectares of the plants will be affected by puso and crop failure.

"We hope that aftershocks will not occur in the near future. Especially now that we are entering the harvest season. We hope that this does not happen, so that North Aceh farmers do not suffer losses," said Erwandi.