Temporary Data, 80 Hectares Of Agricultural Land Fail To Harvest The Impact Of Mount Marapi Eruption

Head of Agam Agriculture Service Afniwirman. Antara/Altas Maulana.

AGAM - The Agriculture Service of Agam Regency, West Sumatra, noted that around 80 hectares of agricultural land failed to harvest the impact of the eruption of Mount Marapi that hit the area since December 3, 2023. "The gap in harvesting agricultural land is less than hundreds of hectares and quite a lot of those affected exceed hundreds of hectares," said Head of the Agam Agriculture Service Afniwirman in Lubuk Basung, Antara, Thursday, January 25. Farming land that failed to harvest is temporary data based on data collection conducted by agricultural extension workers belonging to farmer groups. Meanwhile, data on individual crop failure land is still being recorded by the nagari government. "Data from agricultural instructors and the nagari government will be synchronized into one data. The data will be published at the emergency response post for the eruption of Mount Marapi," he said. He added that the agricultural land affected by the eruption was in Nagari or Bukik Batabuah Village, Canduang District, Nagari Sungai Pua, Batu Palano and Sariak, Sungai Pua District. "The area is close to Mount Marapi, so it has an impact on agriculture," he said. He admitted that agricultural land that failed to harvest were vegetables in the form of cabbage, onions, and others. Meanwhile, tomatoes and chilies only damage the leaves, so that yields are reduced from before.

"The yield has decreased from the previous one even though farmers have poured volcanic ash with water, so that residents' crops are helped from crop failure," he said.