BMKG Urges Farmers to Adjust Planting Schedule During Extended Drought Season

Mataram — Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has urged farmers in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) to adjust their planting schedules and select drought-resistant crop varieties as a precautionary measure against an extended dry season.

“We project this year’s dry season will be longer and drier than usual,” said Nuga Putrantijo, head of the BMKG’s Climatology Station in NTB, at a press conference in Mataram on Monday.

Nuga stated that adjusting planting schedules is an important step to maintain agricultural production despite limited water availability from irrigation systems and rainfall. He advised farmers to plant commodities requiring less water and with shorter growing cycles to reduce the risk of crop failure due to the prolonged drought.

“For the water management sector, we urge local governments and communities to maintain optimal availability of water resources and manage irrigation use effectively,” Nuga said.

According to BMKG forecasts, West Nusa Tenggara will experience a dry season lasting approximately 25 to 27 ten-day periods, equivalent to eight to nine months. The dry season is expected to begin in April 2026, with peak conditions predicted for August 2026, affecting approximately 89 to 90 per cent of the NTB region.

“River basin authorities and the agricultural department need to anticipate this more seriously,” Nuga emphasised.

He also called on the public to heighten vigilance against the impacts of the extended dry season, including not only drought and health problems but also forest and land fires in fire-prone areas such as Mount Rinjani and Mount Tambora.