Drought, 165 Hectares Of Rice Fields In Sangir Junjuk, West Sumatra, Are Threatened With Harvest Failure

Damaged irrigation channel (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - An area of 165 hectares of paddy fields in Sangir Juju District, South Solok Regency, West Sumatra (West Sumatra), is threatened with crop failure because the main irrigation network collapses causing the rice fields to dry up.

"This main irrigation network collapsed along 18 meters due to natural disasters in early 2021 and we have met with local governments to the province, but there is no quick solution so that the community works together to repair it temporarily," said Wali Nagari Lubuk Malako, Riono Pendri in Padang Aro, as reported Between, Friday, 12 February.

He said when the main irrigation system collapsed, the farmers had finished planting rice and were now experiencing water shortages and threatened with crop failure.

Therefore the community agreed to a fee and managed to raise funds to rent an excavator and work together to repair it.

"The important thing is that this irrigation function first, even though it is temporary to irrigate the farmers' fields so that the harvest doesn't fail," he said.

He mentioned that this irrigation channel not only irrigates rice fields in Nagari Lubuk Malako but reaches Nagari Bidar Alam.

"We hope the government pays attention to this irrigation channel so that farmers do not lose money," he said.

Lubuk Malako community leader, Alifis, said the community took the initiative to raise funds and repair this irrigation channel for temporary use.

"Because the collapse was long enough, we took the initiative to rent heavy equipment to finish it quickly because the farmers' rice fields really need water," he said.

For now, he said, his party could only hold the irrigation network with makeshift wood and stone.

Head of the Food Crops Division of the South Solok Agricultural Service, Nurhamidah, said that the area of agricultural land in Lubuk Malako is 310.17 hectares and Bidar Alam is 134.10 hectares.

"As a result of the collapse of this irrigation network, of course there is an impact because water does not enter, it's just that during a disaster there is no puso," he said.

He said that if the result of the collapse of this irrigation could result in puso, of course it must be handled as soon as possible so that farmers do not suffer losses.

"Before there is government assistance, it should be done independently first," he said.