Jakarta, IO – Several farmers were forced to harvest their rice crops ahead of schedule after floods inundated paddy fields in Jakarta (Jan. 27). The flooding was triggered by days of high-intensity rainfall across Jakarta and surrounding areas, prompting farmers to salvage their crops before further damage occurred.
As a result, yields fell sharply, with losses reaching up to 30 percent. Prolonged standing water also hampered the harvesting process. Farm laborers were forced to haul the harvested rice across flooded fields using tarpaulins, wading through water as deep as 70 to 80 centimeters, in an effort to save what remained of the crop.
In addition to flooding, farmers have also been affected by a surge in birds feeding on rice plants. Asmat, head of a local farmers’ group, said the situation had compounded farmers’ losses. He added that rice harvested in wet conditions had to be sold at lower prices, further squeezing farmers’ incomes.
Farmers said they were struggling to cope with the situation, as the flooding not only damaged the current harvest but also threatened to disrupt agricultural production in the next planting season.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) said that the strengthening of the Asian monsoon and activity along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) were the main drivers of the extreme weather that has affected several parts of Indonesia over the past week. (IO/Faisal Ramadhan)
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