Government plays rainmaker

Government plays rainmaker

CIREBON, West Java: The government has been carrying out cloud
seeding in West Java and Central Java since April 1 to ensure a
constant water supply for local farmers during this year's dry
season, an official said on Monday.

The cloud seeding is aimed at filling to capacity two major
reservoirs -- the Jatiluhur dam in Purwakarta, West Java, and the
Kedung Ombo dam in Boyolali, Central Java.

Ato Suprapto, a director general at the Ministry of
Agriculture, said the project involved his office, the Ministry
of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure and the Technology
Assessment and Application Agency (BPPT).

"The government has allocated between Rp 2.5 billion
(US$290,697) and Rp 3 billion for the cloud seeding program in
Java," he said.

Farmers in Cirebon hailed the project, saying it would help
them cope with annual water shortages. --JP