Aceh farmers ready to sow seeds again<\/p>\n
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Aceh Jaya<\/p>\n
Only wild grasses and several mounds of debris can be seen. Gone
\nare the signs indicating that this vast area was once rice
\nfields. Such scenes are commonplace in Krueng Sabe district,
\nwhich was famous for its abundant rice harvests before the
\ntsunami disaster last year.<\/p>\n
Only four of the 11 villages were spared by the earthquake and
\ntsunami on Dec. 26, 2004.<\/p>\n
Some 742 hectares of paddy in six villages are severely
\ndamaged now. They are situated in Keude Krueng Sabe, Kabung,
\nDatar Luas, Paya Seumantok, Padang Datar and Monmata villages.<\/p>\n
Not only were residents in Krueng Sabe district in Aceh Jaya
\naffected by the problem but also those in Lhok Nga district in
\nAceh Besar regency.<\/p>\n
Residents of Krueng Sabe very much depend on rice as their
\nsole means of livelihood, so in the rehabilitation and
\nreconstruction phase now being implemented in Aceh, restoring
\ntheir rice fields so they can start producing again will be a top
\npriority. Residents have already started cleaning up their
\nfields.<\/p>\n
\"We will probably start planting rice next month,\" an official
\nfrom the French organization Action Against Famine (Action Contre
\nLa Faim) that is assisting in the rice field restoration program
\nexplained to The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
However, restoration work is no easy task. Residents must
\nfirstly clean out all the irrigation channels that are clogged
\nwith mud and debris from the tsunami.<\/p>\n
\"If the dam has already been cleaned, rain water carrying
\nwastes from the rice fields will flow to the dam and thus reduce
\nthe level of salinity in the fields,\" said Rahmad.<\/p>\n
Some 700 residents of Krueng Sabe are working together to
\nclean up the dam. They are being paid Rp 35,000 (US$3.60) each
\ndaily by the NGO.<\/p>\n
The NGO will also provide farming tools and rice seedlings to
\nthe farmers.<\/p>\n
\"We will grow a hybrid type of rice,\" a resident of Datar
\nLuas, Adian, 64, told the Post.<\/p>\n
Hybrid rice is suitable for cultivation in rice fields that
\nhave been affected by the tsunami because they are more fertile
\ndue to sedimentation.<\/p>\n
Adian owns a one-hectare field in an area hit by the tsunami.
\nHe acknowledged that he felt frustrated the moment he first
\nrealized the condition of his rice field after the tsunami.<\/p>\n
\"Our lives depend on this rice field. But what could we do?
\nOur rice field and house were destroyed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
No wonder residents gladly welcomed the idea of cleaning up
\ntheir rice fields.<\/p>\n
\"I'm looking forward to planting rice again,\" said Adian.<\/p>\n
In the first stage, around 500 hectares of rice fields
\naffected by the tsunami will be cultivated. The rest will follow
\nsuit after they have been cleaned up.<\/p>\n
\"We are very pleased with such assistance because it will be
\nof much assistance in the long run. We cannot depend on food aid
\nforever,\" said a Datar Luas villager, Yusuf, 43.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aceh-farmers-ready-to-sow-seeds-again-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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