Having Failed To Commemorate Hama Rats, This Time 500 Hectares Of Roles In North Singkawang Were Submerged By Floods

Member of the Regional House of Representatives for the Election of North Singkawang, Muhammadin, shows the condition of damaged residents' land submerged by floods (ANTARA/Rudi)

SINGKAWANG - About 500 hectares of agricultural land for residents of Setapuk Besar and Semelagi Kecil Village, North Singkawang District was damaged due to flooding. "The floods that are still submerging dozens of houses and hundreds of hectares of rice fields in these two urban villages have been going on for three weeks," said one of the farmers in Setapuk Besar Village, North Singkawang District, Darmadi, Antara, Sunday, March 19. Worse, he said, as they made two seedings, but always failed, especially in early 2023 due to flooding and being attacked by rat pests. Darmadi said, during the three weeks of flooding that inundated the rice fields, so long he could not do anything. "Twice in peace, failed twice earlier this year," he said. Even if it recedes later, he admits that it is very difficult to prepare rice seeds. The reason is, the funds spent to buy rice seeds are quite large. "Yesterday, Rp. 2.4 million was spent, but the results were not there. Because the harvest failed due to flooding," he said. Until now, there is still no assistance from the Singkawang City Government in terms of rice seed assistance. "We really hope that there will be rice seed assistance from the Singkawang City Government for replanting," he said. Responding to this, a member of the Regional DPRD for the Singkawang Utara Election, Muhammadin, admitted that he was concerned about what the farmers who were in his electoral district had experienced. By chance, he as the Chairman of Commission 2 of the Singkawang DPRD who is in charge of agriculture. "Currently, farmers in North Singkawang District have not been able to sow, because apart from being flooded, the seeds planted also died," he said. Two farmers have tasted it, but twice also died. Even the harvest was also not optimal because it was flooded. This condition, of course, is very detrimental to the people of North Singkawang District who do dominate as farmers. "My hope is for the Singkawang City Government to immediately record agricultural land affected by the flood," he asked. Especially in North Singkawang District, he said, there were about 500 hectares of agricultural land that were flooded. "This is specifically for agriculture, not to mention plantations. Because in North Singkawang this is an MSME center. It has been confirmed that it will have an impact on plantations that fail to harvest," he said. Even as a result of the flood, the people of North Singkawang, especially farmers, in recent weeks, have not been able to work well and have not been able to earn. "So the Singkawang City Government must go down to see and help farmers in North Singkawang," he hoped. So far, only donors have provided assistance to the people of North Singkawang. "Meanwhile, the Singkawang City Government is expected not to close their eyes, must immediately come down to record and provide assistance to farmers in North Singkawang," he said.