Drought threatens Brebes shallot crops

BREBES, Central Java: The prolonged drought in Brebes regency, Central Java, is threatening shallot crops in northern villages.

The bulbs are aged between 20 days and 30 days.

Local farmers said water levels in the Senggom dam, which holds water for irrigation, was low.

Rosichin, 46, a senior grower from Sigamber village, told The Jakarta Post on Friday that he had to bribe gangs to allow him and other farmers to get irrigation water.

"But after a group of local farmers reported the extortion to local police and staged a protest at the Brebes legislative council recently, the water channels were again reopened to irrigate the parched land," said Rosichin.

Eko Pawito, head of the Brebes irrigation office, said the dam's flow level had been reduced to only 2,200 liters per second during the dry season.

He said his office also supplied water from the dam to southern areas of the regency, besides the northern areas. --JP