Police Use Fire Trucks to Water Cornfields in Riau to Prevent Harvest Failure Amid Drought

The Pangkalan Kuras region in Pelalawan Regency, Riau Province, has begun experiencing drought and dry conditions. No rain has fallen for two weeks, threatening corn crops with harvest failure. In response to the dry season, the Pangkalan Kuras Police Sector (Polsek) has taken the initiative to water the corn plants using a fire truck. Pangkalan Kuras Police Chief Kompol Rinaldi Parlindungan stated that this measure was taken to anticipate crop failure. “This swift action is being taken to ensure optimal corn growth amid minimal rainfall,” Kompol Rinaldi said in a statement on Saturday (13/6/2026). The watering is focused on first-quarter plants that have already formed cobs and second-quarter plants that are one month old, to prevent water stress. The plan is to repeat the watering the following day to maintain soil moisture until normal rainfall returns. “Because it has not rained yet, the fire department and the police are here to bring water to the corn,” he added. The watering was carried out on a 12-hectare cornfield in Sialang Indah, Pangkalan Kuras District, Pelalawan Regency. The cornfield is cultivated by a farmer group mentored by the Pangkalan Kuras Police. “This corn is part of the national food self-sufficiency programme; it must not wither because of the drought. I have instructed the Community Policing Officers (Bhabinkamtibmas) and the Village Cooperative Unit (KUD) to coordinate with the fire department so that routine watering proceeds. With the spirit of ‘Protecting Fortune, Guarding Dignity’, we will oversee the process from planting to harvest. Farmers at ease, food secure, that is our goal,” he explained. If the crop does not fail, the corn is scheduled for harvest between July and September 2026. The drought conditions have caused the corn leaves to curl due to lack of water. This activity demonstrates that the Indonesian National Police is not only present to maintain security but also fully supports government programmes aimed at achieving national food self-sufficiency.