Samosir Farmers Face Just One Rice Planting

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

An aerial view captures on Tuesday (28/8/2018) non-productive rice fields in Demak regency, Central Java. During the dry season, farmers grow crops such as green beans, corn and soybeans that do not need much water.

SAMOSIR, KOMPAS — Farmers in Samosir regency, North Sumatra, have not started planting rice because of the prolonged dry season, which has caused rivers to dry up. The farmers, who usually plant rice twice a year, are faced with only a single planting this year. The paddy fields in several rice production centers have also dried out, their soil cracking. The rice fields are usually irrigated with water from the Guluan River, one of Samosir’s largest rivers, but the river is also drying up.

"This year\'s dry season is longer. Usually, we start plowing the fields and sowing seeds at the beginning of August. However, we cannot plant yet," said 65-year-old farmer Haposan Simanungkalit of Simbolon Purba village, Palipi district.

Samosir Environment Agency head Sudion Tamba said that deforestation of the water catchment area on Samosir Island in Lake Toba had caused the rivers to dry up during the dry season. When the forests of Samosir Island’s water catchment were still lush, daily rainfall could replenish the river with a three-month water supply. Now, a single day of rain provided only enough water for the river to flow several hours, because there were no more trees in the forest to prevent runoff.

More than half of East Java is also experiencing extreme drought that is estimated to last more than 100 days. Close monitoring is required, as the condition could disrupt food production. East Java is a buffer production area of national food stocks and supplies rice to several provinces.

"Based on the observations of the Malang BMKG, almost all regions had seen more than 60 consecutive days without rain by the second day of August," said Anung Suprayitno, the data, observation and information head at the Malang branch of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

East Java’s 2018 rice production target is 8.7 million tons, an increase of 200,000 tons from the previous year. East Java is the largest national food buffer area, and supplies rice to more than 12 provinces.

Market management

The increase in the price of rice in several areas in Central Java has prompted farmers to sell their unhusked rice stocks to meet the demand. To alleviate the price hike, Perum Bulog state logistics agency has readied 100 tons of rice in a market management operation. This is one of the effects of drought.

On Tuesday (28/8/2018), the price of medium-grade rice at a number of traditional markets in Semarang, Central Java, reached Rp 10,700 per kilogram, an increase from last week’s Rp 10,200 per kg.

Observations at several traditional markets show variations in the rice price. At Semarang’s Pedurungan market, medium-grade rice cost Rp 10,550 per kg while good-quality rice cost Rp 10,700 per kg. At Gayamsari market, medium-grade rice cost Rp 10,600 to Rp 10,700 per kg.

Hardiono, the chairman of the Lanjar Mulai farmers group in Ngaringan district, Grobogan regency, Central Java, admitted that farmers had begun selling some of their unhusked rice stocks. "In the villages, farmers are supported by their corn harvests. However, those who [did not plant corn] have started selling their rice stock," he said.

Procurement head Ismoyo Dwijantoro of the Perum Bulog’s Central Java regional branch said that rice market operations had been carried out at a price of Rp 9,700 per kg, in accordance with instructions from Perum Bulog headquarters. Market operations will continue until the price of rice falls to around Rp 9,450 per kg. The Central Java Perum Bulog had prepared 100 tons of rice for the market operations. "Bulog is cooperating with local partners and traders so the rice can be sold directly to the people," he said.

Teguh Prasetyo, a rice trader in Mranak village, Demak regency, Central Java, said that rice was becoming expensive because the price of dry unhusked rice had increased to around Rp 5,500 per kg. Dry unhusked rice was also difficult to source, because the current harvest season was restricted to certain regions, such as the East Java regencies of Bojonegoro and Madiun, and Central Java’s Cilacap regency.

The Kedu office of the Central Java Perum Bulog was also conducting a market operation, with the latest operation on Saturday and Tuesday. "Every day, we will sell 2 quintals of rice to local residents, through either the RPK food warehouse or direct sales," said Perum Bulog Kedu head Sri Emilia Mudiyanti.

(WHO/EGI/NSA/NIK)