263 Hectare Plantation Lands In North Aceh Floods

Residents' houses and oil palm plantations in Leubok Pusaka Village, Stepan District, North Aceh Regency, were flooded. ANTARA/HO/BPBD North Aceh

ACEH UTARA - The Department of Plantation, Livestock, and Animal Health of North Aceh Regency noted that 263 hectares of plantation land in the area had been flooded since the last few days. Head of Plantation Division of the Plantation, Livestock and Animal Health Office of North Aceh Regency, Ichsan, said hundreds of hectares of flooded plantations were spread over four sub-districts. "From the officer's data, the submerged plantations are palm oil, cocoa, and betel nut. The height of the flood that submerged the plantation varies, up to tens of centimeters," said Ichsan in Lhokseumawe, Antara, Thursday, January 26. Ichsan said the 263 hectares of flooded plantations included Stepan District, Lhoksukon District, Pirak Timu District, and Matang Kuli District. Of the 263 hectares of the plantations that were flooded, 193 hectares of palm plantations, 53 hectares of cocoa plantations, and 17 hectares of betel nut plantations. "Perkebunan yang terendam hanya dalam waktu sehari saja, sehingga tidak terlalu berdampak terhadap sawit dan pinang. Namun, untuk cocoa cukup berdampak karena jika terlalu lama, tanaman bisa mati," kata Ichsan. In addition to being able to kill plants, said Ichsan, the cocoa plants that are flooded also have an impact on the productivity of fruit because flooding can cause trees and dry leaves. This condition, said Ichsan, plants are called sick, so they need treatment so that they can return to production. If not, plants will die and it will certainly harm farmers. "We continue to record plantations, especially cocoa plants that are flooded. The goal is to find out how many plants are affected, so that later efforts can be made for the plant recovery program," said Ichsan.