Systematically Handling the Drought

So far rice fields affected by droughts have reached less than 15 percent of the total harvest areas, but the impact on rice production cannot be ignored. The Agriculture Ministry said paddy fields, which were affected by droughts, covered 134,790 hectares of total rice planting areas.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Dried up rice fields are seen around the Cipamingkis River in Jonggol district, Bogor regency, West Java, Friday (3/8/2018). A long drought has affected a total of 14,442 residents in seven villages in Jonggol. The dry season was exacerbated by the destruction of the Cipamingkis Dam in March 2017.

So far rice fields affected by droughts have reached less than 15 percent of the total harvest areas, but the impact on rice production cannot be ignored.

The Agriculture Ministry said paddy fields, which were affected by droughts from the beginning of the year to Aug. 24, covered 134,790 hectares of total rice planting areas, which are claimed to reach 9.15 million ha.

This year\'s drought has gotten attention because Indonesia is predicted to experience an El Niño climate phenomenon from September to April 2019. In Indonesia, the climate has led to a reduction in rainfall even though the impact is expected not to be as severe as El Niño in 2015.

A number of regions, including rice production centers, have already been affected by the dry season. Lack of rainfall has forced farmers to look for other water sources, including through pump wells.

For Indonesia, which is located on the equator and has a wet tropical climate, the arrival of the dry season alternating with the rainy season is common.

The impact of the dry season becomes unusual when climate change occurs. Climate change due to the burning of carbon gas causes a greenhouse effect, increasing the temperature of the Earth\'s surface. This triggers micro and global climate change, including in rainfall patterns.

In the dry season, regardless of El Niño, there will be a problem when water management is not systematic and is not executed well. Water management must be carried out from the upstream to the downstream as a whole, not partially.

We must admit that our water management, especially in Java, has not been run well. The sustainability of the upstream area of the river as a source of water catchment is under threat, while function of the watershed is mixed with settlements and agriculture. The result is very noticeable. When the long dry season arrives, the river water level recedes rapidly. Meanwhile, when the rainy season arrives, the river becomes frightening as it threatens to flood.

Food, especially rice, even after 73 years of Indonesia’s independence, is still a political commodity. The government occasionally maintains its availability at all costs, including building dams and reservoirs to ensure water supply and pumping during the dry season.

However, dams and reservoirs are only downstream parts of the water management system. We have not really dealt with the upstream part, namely sufficient forest availability, as the water catchment area and watershed.

With climate change, while we must be sovereign in food, we need to use science and technology to manage water. We should start by gathering big weather data through our own weather satellites, raising the number of weather stations and supplying them with adequate equipment.

The use of science and technology in many countries can accurately predict weather and climate patterns and play an important role in planning food production and preventing disasters.