South Kalimantan Flood Destroys Over 200,000-ha Agricultural Lands
Translator
Editor
19 January 2021 15:43 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Banjar - The Indonesian Farmers Union (SPI) of South Kalimantan reported that 209,884 hectares of agricultural lands in 12 districts/cities were destroyed by the flood.
“It is destroyed due to flooding in early 2021. Only Kotabaru District which reports no damage so far,” said the South Kalimantan SPI chairman, Dwi Putra Kurniawan, to Tempo on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
The 209,884-hectare land consists of 188,895 hectares of rice fields and 20,989 hectares of agricultural crops, horticulture, and fish farming ponds.
Based on the SPI record, Dwi added, 5 districts reported the largest damaged areas, namely Barito Kuala District with 64,133 hectares, Tanah Laut Regency 37,440 hectares, Banjar Regency 33,309 hectares, Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency 17,985 hectares, and Tapin Regency 16,479 hectares.
According to him, all of the agricultural lands were active. Dwi added that around 18,000 farmers and residents were evacuated. “The material losses are estimated to reach tens of billions.”
Dwi further predicted that agricultural products such as vegetables or horticulture, secondary crops, and fish commodities would likely contribute to inflation in January 2021.
Read: Walhi Slams Jokowi for Saying South Kalimantan Floods Due to Heavy Rains
DIANANTA P. SUMEDI (CONTRIBUTOR)
