JAKARTA, Jun 14 (NNN-ANTARA) – Extreme hot weather caused by El Nino phenomenon is predicted to drag up to 870,000 hectares of agricultural lands in Indonesia into drought and crop failures, Agriculture Minister, Syahrul Yasin Limpo said, yesterday.
“The extreme El Nino has the potential to cause not only drought, but also crop failures, land fires and pest attacks, for 560,000 to 870,000 hectares of agricultural lands across the country,” Limpo said, during a parliamentary hearing in Jakarta.
Indonesia’s meteorology, climatology and geophysical agency BMKG, has previously announced that, the country is expected to experience El Nino phenomenon in the second half of this year, with its peak coming in Aug.
Limpo said that, in order to reduce negative consequences and maintain food production capacity, the Indonesian government will identify and map land areas that are prone to drought, to accelerate planting and harvesting there when there’s still rain.
The government will also supply more farm machinery to accelerate planting, offer support for irrigation, and provide agricultural insurance to farmers.– NNN-ANTARA
