TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that severe flooding have submerged farmers' fields in Ciptamargi Village, Cilebar District, Karawang Regency, West Java. Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo said that the area is the center for rice production.

"We will monitor it for the next week. After it starts to recede, we will replant it as soon as possible," said Syahrul to the farmers while visiting the flood site as quoted from a written statement on Friday, March 3, 2023.

Syahrul explained that rain continued to shower the region for the past six days, causing the water in the irrigation to overflow and inundate farmers' fields. Syahrul also asked the ministry's Director Generals to provide assistance.

The ministry also distributed a number of pumps to alleviate inundation and save farmers' rice fields. Syahrul stated that his ministry would continue to monitor the flooding through the Agriculture War Room (AWR) in Jakarta.

For lands that are badly affected, Syahrul said that he would distribute free rice seeds and a water pump machine. Syahrul hoped that the flood would not dampen farmers' spirits.

"I understand that this is not something easy, but if everyone is doing something, we can go through anything,” Syahrul expressed optimism.

Hanafi, Assistant II for Economic Affairs of the Karawang Government, said that Karawang has declared a flood emergency status as 6,879 hectares, or 51 percent of the plantations in the regency were inundated by floods.

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI

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