West Sumatra Agricultural Land Recovery Due To Cold Lahar Reaches 50 Percent

Photo: Antara

Head of the West Sumatra Food Crops and Horticulture Plantation Service, Febrina Tri Susila Putri, said that the recovery of agricultural land affected by the cold lava disaster and flash floods in the local province had reached 50 percent.

"We are working with the TNI to restore agricultural land in Agam Regency, Tanah Datar and Pesisir Selatan Regency which have exceeded 50 percent," said Head of the West Sumatra Food Crops and Horticulture Plantation Service Febrina Tri Susila Putri, ANTARA, Sunday, December 1.

Febrina Tri Susila estimates that all agricultural land damaged by the cold lava flood of Mount Marapi and affected by flash floods in Pesisir Selatan Regency can be completed by the end of December 2024.

"God willing, by the end of December 2024 we can complete the restoration of this land," he said.

After the land restoration is complete, the West Sumatra Food Crops and Horticulture Plantation Service targets to provide assistance to areas affected by the disaster.

The assistance is in the form of seeds, agricultural tools and machinery, construction of farm business roads, provision of fertilizers, irrigation construction and so on. The assistance was part of the Ministry of Agriculture's policy promised by Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman during a visit to Agam Regency which was affected by the cold lava disaster.

"Of course, farmers who are affected by natural disasters need the government's role to be productive again," he said.

Regarding the budget, his party has not been able to confirm the amount of assistance prepared to farmers in 2025 considering that it is still in the process of being calculated. However, the Governor of West Sumatra instructed the relevant agencies to accelerate the recovery of the agricultural sector damaged by natural disasters.

On that occasion, he emphasized that every farmer registered in the Definitive Plan for the Needs of farmer groups (RDKK) will certainly receive subsidized fertilizer. However, if there are farmers who do not get it, the relevant agencies will seek it from provincial assistance.