Not El Nino, the Biggest Threat to Merauke's Rice Fields Is Saltwater

Farmers in Merauke are not just racing against the hot weather. In the tidal rice fields of South Papua, they must also overcome the intrusion of saltwater. If planting is delayed, irrigation channels can turn saline by August or September, effectively ending the growing season.

Angga Dwi Hardianto, a farmer from Candra Jaya in Kurik District, said rain has not fallen for two months. However, for farmers in tidal areas, the main issue is not merely the lack of rainfall, but ensuring the fields receive a freshwater supply before the saline season arrives. “Normally, we already feel the heat; it hasn’t rained for two months,” Angga said when met at his land in Candra Jaya Village, Kurik District, Merauke, South Papua, on Sunday (5/7/2026).

In Merauke, the impact of El Nino is felt differently because the irrigation system depends on the ebb and flow of the river. As long as the water has not turned saline, the fields still receive a water supply. “Here, it depends on the irrigation, following the river. Tidal. As long as the water ebbs and flows without turning salty, irrigation remains safe,” he explained.

This means the greatest threat to farmers is not merely drought or El Nino, but the change in water quality. Therefore, the timing of planting is extremely crucial. Angga noted that farmers are encouraged to plant early so that the harvest can be completed before the tidal water becomes saline. “That’s why the government always urges us to plant early, because they understand the soil conditions here and know that irrigation relies on the tides. If you’re a bit late planting now, you definitely cannot harvest. The prediction is that by August the water will be salty, given the current weather. If rain comes, that’s a different story,” he clarified.

Consequently, many farmers choose to start planting in April so that harvesting can be done before the water turns salty. Angga estimates that harvesting will begin from late July into August. For farmers in Merauke, the decision to plant early is not without reason. Once the window is missed, the opportunity to replant soon is virtually closed. After this season ends, farmers typically have to wait for the rainy season planting period at the end of the year. For those who have harvested before the water turns saline, Angga said they cannot start a new planting cycle once August arrives. “No, I don’t think you can plant again, because by August the water is already salty, so it’s impossible,” he stated. When can they start again? “Next rainy season, around December,” he replied.

To maintain water supply during the dry season, farmers still rely on water pumps. “If the irrigation is still safe, we use pumps, Sir,” he added. Although the hot weather has persisted and rain has been absent for two months, Angga admitted he is not too worried about crop failure. He believes the two-month-old plants are mature enough to reach harvest, provided the saltwater does not arrive earlier than expected. “There’s no worry about crop failure. Because we can see, these plants are already two months old. At most, in the next month, the water is predicted to turn salty, so we will have harvested by then,” Angga said.

Head of the Agency for Agricultural Assembly and Modernisation at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fadjry Djufry, acknowledged that the characteristics of Merauke’s land are different from other regions. According to him, the area consists of type C tidal land, so the planting calendar must be adjusted to the water patterns. “Naturally, variations will occur across Indonesia. Here, it is type C tidal land. So, there are spring tides. Under normal conditions, water does not fully enter here. Usually, by August or late September, the water here becomes salty. That is why we also use varieties that are more tolerant to salinity,” said Fadjry. He added that the Merauke region also faces specific pest challenges and unique agroecosystem conditions, meaning cultivation approaches cannot be equated with those in Java or other technical irrigation areas. For Merauke’s farmers, the seasonal calendar ultimately becomes as decisive as fertiliser and seeds. They are not just planting rice, but also counting the days: when the water is still safe, when the fields can still be irrigated, and when the grain must be harvested before the taste of salt seeps into the channels.