BMKG Advises NTT Farmers To Plant According To Wet Drought Conditions

A number of farmers on Adonara Island, East Flores Regency, NTT, clear agricultural land during the dry season/Photo: Antara

KUPANG - The Head of Class II Kupang Climatology Station, Meteorology Climatology Agency (BMKG), Rahmattulloh Adji, advised farmers in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to carry out planting activities that are suitable for wet-dry conditions in the area.

"Farmers or related stakeholders in NTT need to pay close attention to wet-dry conditions to adjust to the types of plants that are suitable for planting so that they can bear fruit", he said when contacted in Kupang, Saturday, June 11.

He said it was related to the dry season conditions and the potential impact on the agricultural sector.

He explained that currently there are 21 season zones (zom) out of a total of 23 zoms in NTT that have entered the dry season.

However, there are still areas that experience or have the opportunity for low, medium, or very high rainfall categories.

He gave an example, based on the deterministic forecast of rainfall in Dasarian II in June 2022, some areas will experience medium rainfall (51-150 millimeters), namely most of West Manggarai, Manggarai, East Manggarai, Ngada, Nagekeo, Ende, Sabu Raijua,

In addition, a small part of Sikka, East Flores, Lembata Alor, Southwest Sumba, East Sumba, Rote Ndao, Kupang, South Central Timor, North Central Timor, Belu, and parts of Malacca.

Meanwhile, a small part of the Kupang Regency, South Central Timor, and North Central Timor will experience a very high rainfall category (more than 300 millimeters).

"So it can be said that NTT is experiencing a wet-dry season which can pose a risk of disrupting agricultural activities, but on the other hand it can be useful in increasing the community's water supply", he said, quoted by Antara.

Rahmattulloh hopes that this information on climate conditions can become supporting data for stakeholders in the provinces and districts in NTT in making decisions to anticipate the impact of losses.