Food crisis in East Nusa Tenggara avoidable<\/p>\n
Antara, Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara<\/p>\n
East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), an area of 47,349 square kilometers
\nwith an arid climate, has suffered a food crisis this year due to
\nlow rainfall triggered by a shortened rainy season.<\/p>\n
The dry season takes place about nine months in a year from
\nApril to November and the rainy season is only three months a
\nyear, from December to March.<\/p>\n
The characteristics and condition of the region, with all its
\nshortcomings, have become a challenge and a problem for the
\nprovincial administration and the people in nearly all sectors of
\ndevelopment. The region, vulnerable to natural disasters, and
\nconstantly hit by a number of extraordinary occurrences such as
\nthe prolonged drought, pest invasions on Sumba island and areas
\nbordering with East Timor, and the spread of rabies on Flores and
\nLembata islands, have definitely had an impact on the socio-
\neconomic lives of the local populace.<\/p>\n
According to the vice regent of Belu, Gregor Mau Bili
\nFernandez, there are at least two pressing problems facing all
\nregental administrations in NTT; the high poverty rate and the
\nlow productivity of its people.<\/p>\n
Based on data from the local family planning board, there are
\nat least 50,289 poor families in Belu regency.<\/p>\n
\"One of the factors is the ineffectual use of technology in
\nthe agricultural sector. The people lack the initiative to grow
\nalternative crops to support their earnings,\" said Fernandez in
\nAtambua recently.<\/p>\n
He said that due to the drought this year, a total of 1,879
\nhectares of corn and rice plantations in four districts of Belu
\nhad failed to reach maturity. As a result, about 1,013 tons of
\nrice and 16,321 tons of corn could not be salvaged.<\/p>\n
Head of the Sikka Agricultural Office on Flores island Markus
\nMeo said that the projected data on food crops showed that five
\nof the 11 districts facing harvest failure now were Paga, Lela,
\nKawapante, Bola and Alok.<\/p>\n
It is predicted that about 2,709 tons of rice, 1,801 tons of
\ngogo rice (from non-irrigated rice fields) and 10,039 tons of
\ncorn will not be harvested due to the water shortage.<\/p>\n
\"Despite of that, there are still rice stocks ready at the
\nprovincial logistics agency (Dolog) for emergency situations.
\nSome 1,483 tons of rice will be provided in the form of cheap
\nrice by the special market operation (OPK), and 1,254 tons of
\nfood supplies from outside the region, not including supplies
\nfrom the livestock, farming and fishery sectors,\" said Markus.<\/p>\n
Belu Vice Regent Fernandez said that in a food crisis like
\nthis, residents need not eat rice only but could opt for edible
\nroots. The administration will overcome the problem by
\nimplementing the program of cheap rice for the poor.<\/p>\n
But the practice will not be a sustainable one as residents
\nwill tend not to work their land, he said.<\/p>\n
A community figure in Sasita Mean district, Arnoldus Asa, said
\nthat residents had already planted corn in the previous planting
\nseason but had faced water shortages due to the drought.<\/p>\n
\"Even though the rainfall is starting to become normal, it is
\nalready too late now because corn and some rice crops have
\nalready died. There is no other choice because the residents are
\nused to growing rice and corn during every planting season,\" said
\nArnoldus.<\/p>\n
An advocate for the farmers, Father Urbanus Hala, acknowledged
\nthat it was no easy task to urge residents to plant crops other
\nthan corn and rice.<\/p>\n
They are already accustomed to monocultural methods and
\ncultivate a few hectares of land just to meet a year's supply of
\nfood. \"We have encouraged them not to depend on corn and rice
\nonly but benefit from the vast idle plots of land by growing
\nalternative crops. If they fail to plant and harvest, they can
\nsell the produce to buy food for their families,\" said Urbanus.<\/p>\n
\"We will empower agribusiness methods starting from what the
\nfarmers possess, and pay special attention to the environment,
\nsocio-cultural, economic and local values, justness and human
\naspects,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/food-crisis-in-east-nusa-tenggara-avoidable-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}