15,000 hectares of farmland dry up

15,000 hectares of farmland dry up

BEKASI: Drought has affected at least 15,000 hectares of
farmland in several districts in Bekasi regency, due to the
prolonged dry season.

Chairman of the Public Participation and Information Community
Imran Nasution revealed that the districts affected by severe
drought were Cibarusah, West Cikarang, Central Cikarang and South
Cikarang.

Imran said the situation had worsened as irrigation canals
which should channel water from the Cibeet river to the farmland,
were damaged.

"We regret that the regency has been slow to respond to the
drought. The regency should quickly repair the irrigation
canals," he said on Wednesday.

The regency earlier said that they had not repaired the
canals due to a shortage of funds. -- Antara