Serious drought in NTT

Thu, 07 Apr 2005, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

The serious drought in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has been
evident for quite some time. The meteorological office in Kupang,
however, stated a few weeks ago in Pos Kupang that the current
rainy season was quite normal. The water supply in Kupang from
the regional water company (PDAM) itself has been in crisis for
several years mainly because of corruption, collusion and
nepotism (KKN) and total mismanagement of the sector; the
situation now is of course made worse by the drought.

Restructuring of the agricultural sector is a must! Irrigation
is a partial answer to a relative few, mainly coastal, areas. In
the uplands where many subsistence farmers live, the introduction
to alternative land use, which has been investigated, studied and
researched for many years should be implemented. Of course NTT is
far from Jakarta and has little economic importance and influence
because of its meager resources.

ZAFAR YOUNG, Singapore

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