Drought robs north coast shtimp farmers of harvest

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Indramayu

The prolonged drought plaguing north coast areas of West Java is threatening the livelihoods of thousands of shrimp farmers in the regencies of Indramayu and Cirebon.

Cirebon Agriculture Extension Agency chairman Tuti Anah said the drought had reduced water volumes in the Ciwaringin and Kumpulkuista rivers, affecting the water supply of a number of villages in the Kapetakan district.

"Many farmers have been forced to catch their shrimps early before harvest time while other breeding farms are completely dry," she said.

At least 3,900 hectares of shrimp farm around Kapetakan, Cirebon, Krangkeng and Indramayu are in danger of drying up completely because of water shortages during the past month.

Moch Dullah, 46, a farmer from Krangkeng, said the farmers had to take turns obtaining water for their ponds.

Abing, 35, a farmer from Pegagan village, said it was more expensive to attempt to raise shrimp as the costs of pumping water from the drying rivers were prohibitive.

The shrimp farmers have also suffered huge losses due to premature harvesting. Akhmad Jaelani, 44, a fish farmer from Bungko Kidul village, said he could only sell a kilogram of shrimp for Rp 35,000, about half the normal price because of the low quality.

District head Tatang Kartono said the regency administration was trying to dredge the Ciwaringin and Kumpulkuista rivers in order to keep the remaining water.

"But dredging the rivers is not a long-term solution. Therefore we will have to improve irrigation channels to drought- prone areas," he said.

Sedimentation in the channels made it difficult for the ponds to get water, he said.