Floods Make Agriculture In North Aceh Lose IDR 12.2 Billion, Secretary Reports To Minister Of Agriculture

Illustration of agriculture in Indonesia. (Antara/Oky Lukmansyah)

JAKARTA - The Acting (Plt) of the Regional Secretary (Sekda) of North Aceh Regency, Dayah Albar, revealed that the flood had caused huge losses to the agricultural sector in the region.

Dayah said the loss to the agricultural sector reached 12.243 billion due to floods that hit the area in early 2022. He said this had been conveyed to the Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo.

"We have reported losses in the agricultural sector due to flooding earlier this year. We also ask for support from the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture for the restoration of agriculture to the people of North Aceh Regency," said Dayan Albar, quoted from Antara.

Of the total losses in the agricultural sector, which reached Rp. 12.2 billion, he added, Rp. 10.5 billion of which was due to rice crop failures which reached 2,842 hectares.

Next, the loss of paddy nurseries covering an area of 2,887 hectares with a loss of IDR 519.75 million. The loss of corn crops affected by the flood was 50 hectares with a loss of IDR 925 million.

Then, chili plants covering an area of 3.85 hectares with a loss of IDR 106 million, red onions with a land area of one hectare with a loss of IDR 105 million, soybeans with a land area of five hectares with a loss of IDR 37.5 million.

"Losses are also experienced by eggplant farmers with 0.6 hectares of losses reaching Rp. 19.8 million and tomato plants covering an area of 0.4 hectares with losses of Rp. 12.8 million," he said.

Dayan Albar said the Indonesian Minister of Agriculture expressed his concern over the flood disaster in North Aceh Regency. The minister said he would help the recovery of the agricultural sector.

"The minister also hopes that fertilizer companies in North Aceh will increase production to help farmers, especially in Aceh, to restore the agricultural sector affected by floods," he said.