MDMC: Disaster Resilience Essential for Food Security and Economy in Southern Central Java
Purwokerto (ANTARA) - The Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) assesses that strengthening disaster resilience is an urgent requirement to maintain food security, economic stability, and sustainable development in the southern part of Central Java (Jateng), an area with a high level of disaster vulnerability.
Deputy Chairman of the MDMC Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah, Naibul Umam, in Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, on Friday, stated that the Barlingmascakeb area, which includes Banjarnegara, Purbalingga, Banyumas, Cilacap, and Kebumen, is a strategic region in southern Central Java.
However, at the same time, this area faces complex disaster threats, ranging from megathrust earthquakes, tsunamis, annual floods, landslides, to droughts caused by the El Niño phenomenon.
He said the first threat comes from the potential for megathrust earthquakes and tsunamis in the coastal areas of Cilacap and Kebumen, which are located in a subduction zone with potential magnitudes reaching 8.7 to 8.9.
According to him, this threat not only impacts coastal communities but also risks disrupting national strategic infrastructure and food production centres.
“The megathrust and tsunami threats in this area pose an existential risk to the national economy and food security. Seawater intrusion can cause salinisation of agricultural land in coastal areas, rendering rice fields unproductive for years,” he said.
In addition, he said, annual floods that frequently occur in Cilacap, Banyumas, and Kebumen from January to March also represent a serious threat, as they coincide with planting and peak harvest seasons.
He stated that this situation can lead to mass crop failures, disrupt food logistics distribution, and trigger rises in the prices of staple goods.
“Floods can sever distribution routes, damage harvest yields, and cause farmers to lose capital for the next planting season. Ultimately, communities are also affected, as food prices rise,” he said.
He said the landslide threats in highland areas, such as Banjarnegara, Purbalingga, and northern Banyumas, also have the potential to damage horticultural centres, block transportation access, and increase inter-regional logistics costs.
Meanwhile, droughts due to El Niño are described as silent disasters whose impacts occur gradually but extensively on agriculture and community economic activities.
According to him, strengthening regional resilience must be part of development strategies through the development of disaster-resistant crop varieties, optimisation of reservoirs and weirs, construction of early warning systems, strengthening of agricultural business insurance, crop diversification, and the implementation of agroforestry in slope areas.
“The cost of mitigation may seem expensive at first, but it is far cheaper than post-disaster recovery costs. Disaster resilience is not an option, but a long-term investment for the future of food, economy, and welfare of the people of southern Central Java,” said Naibul Umam.