TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Agriculture Ministry claimed it has implemented strategic measures to anticipate crop failure caused by drought that hit several regions in the country.

The ministry’s director-general for food crops, Sumarjo Gatot Irianto, said that his office has hurried the seeding period in several areas near dams across Java Island.

“We hasten the planting period in areas near dams across Java such as Jatiluhur, Bekasi, Subang, Indramayu, and Cirebon,” said Sumarjo through a short message on Thursday, July 25.

Sumarjo added that his side had distributed water pumps in several affected areas, particularly in East Java and Central Java to overcome dry agricultural lands. The water pump is a mitigation tool to extract groundwater for irrigation.

Other than in Java Island, the government also quicken the seeding period in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, Sumarjo added.

Previously, Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) announced 35 percent of Indonesian region has entered the dry season, which is forecasted to peak in August until September.

Several regions are predicted to face prolonged dryness as there will likely be no rainfall for 21 days, possibly bringing those areas into drought alert status.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA | FRISKI RIANA