TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) has asked the people not to worry about the upcoming drought as a result of El Nino heatwave. BNPB predicts that the Pacific Storm will likely end in October, and that rainy season will kick off in November.
In response to the extreme drought, BNPB plans to generate artificial rains in seven regions, from Sumatra to Nusa Tenggara. The agency has prepared in total of Rp200 billion to cope with the matter.
Syamsul Maarif, Head of BNPB, said that within two days, planes will be ready to help generate artificial rain. The airforce have prepared two planes, while Agriculture Ministry has prepared one.
Moreover, the Agriculture Ministry has also built 1.3 hectares of tertiary irrigation and provided water pumps.
ROBBY IRFANY