Destroyed crops dismay farmers

BANJARNEGARA, Central Java: At least 7,000 hectares of potato crops in the mountainous area of Dieng were washed away after a persistent downpour and strong wind swept the area here for three days, Banjarnegara regent H. Nurachmad said on Wednesday.

"This incident will cause severe hardship to about 25,000 local farmers in the area who depend on these crops," Nurachmad said.

A local farmer, Suyanto, was extremely dependent on the coming crop as the last one was wrecked by poisonous dew. (45/edt)