Tanjabtim Government Ensures 3,771 Hectares of Rice Fields Safe from Drought

The Tanjung Jabung Timur (Tanjabtim) Regency Government in Jambi has confirmed that 3,771 hectares of rice fields are safe from the threat of drought during the current dry season. “We can confirm they are safe, farmer groups have been equipped with water pumps distributed across the food-producing districts,” said the Head of the Tanjabtim Food Crops and Horticulture Agency, Sunarno, in Muara Sabak on Monday. Sunarno explained that to anticipate the need for water supply in agricultural lands during the dry season, his agency has prepared 275 water pumps provided by the Ministry of Agriculture. The assistance has been fully distributed to the respective farmer groups and is on standby to channel water to fields that may be affected by drought. He added that, so far, the condition of the agricultural land remains safe. Water supply from primary and secondary channels is still sufficient, considering the region is a coastal swamp area with abundant water availability. Currently, the standing crop for the April-September planting period, covering 3,771 hectares, has entered the reproductive or generative phase and is safe from the threat of drought. The planting distribution across the regency includes Nipah Panjang District with 1,027 hectares, Berbak 986 hectares, Muara Sabak Timur 255 hectares, Muara Sabak Barat 74 hectares, Geragai District 226 hectares, Dendang 83 hectares, and Rantau Rasau 695 hectares. He estimates that farmers can begin harvesting from late August to early September, with a production target of 5.5 tonnes of dry unhusked grain per hectare. He added that the success of agriculture in Tanjabtim is also supported by the presence of 17 Food Brigades, which have been deployed across eight food-producing districts. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture has disbursed assistance this year for optimising 571 hectares of new rice fields. Of this total, 101 hectares have reached the finalisation stage and are ready to be cultivated by farmers. “We are very optimistic that food self-sufficiency in Tanjabtim will be maintained, the government continues to strive to keep the farmers’ spirit for cultivation high,” he concluded.