Forestry Minister optimises weather modification in areas with rain cloud seeds

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has said the government is optimising Weather Modification Operations (OMC) in areas that still have rain cloud seeds as a measure to extinguish forest and land fires (karhutla).

In a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday, the minister said rain remains the most effective way to help put out forest and land fires, especially amid the dry season and the El Niño phenomenon.

“The government has been carrying out OMC since January to anticipate drought and potential fires, especially by wetting peatland areas in several provinces,” said Raja Juli Antoni.

He further said one of the areas that still has rain cloud seeds to support the implementation of OMC is Berau, East Kalimantan.

The minister added that OMC in Berau has entered its third day. According to him, Berau is one of the areas that still has rain cloud seeds available for seeding.

“In Berau, thank God, there are still rain clouds that can be seeded, and we have agreed that wherever in Indonesia there are rain seeds, we will carry out OMC,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister Raja Juli Antoni said the very strong El Niño conditions this year pose a challenge in handling forest and land fires.

He compared the current conditions with the El Niño phenomenon in 2015, when 2.6 million hectares of land inside and outside forest areas were burned.

“Moreover, we are now entering a very strong El Niño, the same as in 2015. If we look at the references, the strength of this El Niño is actually the same as in 2015,” he said.

In addition to optimising OMC, the minister also called on all parties to protect forests from fires amid the El Niño phenomenon.

He also reminded the public not to carry out land clearing and other activities that could trigger fires in forest areas.

“Small things like discarding cigarette butts can also cause fires,” the minister said.