Batang Regency Deploys Water Pumps in 50 Villages to Anticipate Drought

In anticipation of drought disasters that could reduce water supplies and lead to potential crop failure, the Food and Agriculture Office (Dispaperta) of Batang Regency, Central Java, has prepared water pumps in 50 villages located in drought-prone zones. Although Batang Regency remains safe from drought disasters at present, dozens of villages across several sub-districts are classified as drought-prone areas, prompting various measures to anticipate such events. In addition to providing clean water for drought relief, the Batang Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), together with the regional water company (PDAM) and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), is ready to distribute clean water aid to residents. Wawan Nurdiansyah, Chief Executive of BPBD Batang, stated that 15 sub-districts in the region are still secure, but clean water reserves have been prepared for assistance. Beyond the impact on clean water supplies, the Food and Agriculture Office is also anticipating water shortages for irrigating rice fields during the current dry season, particularly in villages within drought-prone zones spread across several sub-districts. Syam Manohara, Secretary of Dispaperta Batang, said that several drought-prone areas in sub-districts such as Reban, Tersono, Bawang, Wonotunggal, Bandar, and Blado are receiving serious attention this dry season, with various anticipatory measures being taken to prevent crop failure. As part of these efforts, water pumps have been prepared in at least 50 villages within drought-prone zones to irrigate fields, as prolonged dry seasons are expected to reduce irrigation channel water levels and threaten agricultural productivity. The office has also prepared reserve water pumps that can be deployed when needed and is urging farmers to adjust their planting schedules according to the availability of water in irrigation channels.