TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Center for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) Yogyakarta has predicted that the drought season will get even worse in September. El Nino index has increased 0.4 point to a moderate level since last August.
Head of Data and Information Division of BMKG Yogyakarta, Teguh Prasetyo, said that El Nino index or the rise of sea water temperature has increased to 1.96 from 1.5 last August. "The drought is getting worse," he told Tempo on Monday, August 31.
Teguh said that the prolonged drought will impact agriculture life. It will impact not only primary commodity such as rice, but also secondary commodity such as vegetables. "Vegetables need more water due to the extreme heat,” he said.
BMKG predicts that rain will form on November and December at the fastest. There is no indication that the drought will end on October, as it will likely come to rainy season on November.
PRIBADI WICAKSONO