Rice crops may be destroyed

Rice crops may be destroyed

CILACAP, Central Java: Some 20,000 hectares of rice fields in
67 villages in 6 districts may be lost due to the failure of a
pump of the Gambarsari irrigation system and the decreasing water
level in Serayu River.

A number of farmers, fearing their crops may be destroyed,
have rerouted irrigation pipes and siphoned water into their
fields. The local authorities are watching over the irrigation to
prevent other farmers from doing the same.

Cilacap Regent HM Soepardi told The Jakarta Post that an
emergency water gate has been opened to help farmers water their
fields.

The Gambarsari pump is being replaced with a new pump which is
part of the Gerak Serayu Dam currently under construction, he
pointed out.

When completed in July, the new dam will be able to irrigate
24,700 hectares of fields all year long. (wah/swe)