Drought threatens food shortages

Drought threatens food shortages

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Some 176,000 families here are
threatened by potential food shortages due to the expected
failure of the coming crop.

An estimated 7,600 hectares of paddy field are expected to be
ruined due to the extended dry season.

Governor Harun Alrasyid has alerted local officials, calling
on them to make preparations. He said 1,500 tons of rice are
being readied for distribution to anticipate food shortages in
Lombok and Sumbawa, which is known as a drought prone area.

"This is to anticipate the possibility of food shortages,
particularly in South Lombok," he said here on Wednesday. (49)