West Java Provincial Government Urges Regencies and Cities to Anticipate Impacts of the 2026 Dry Season

West Java Province’s government urges regencies and cities within the province to anticipate potential impacts of what is forecast to be a long drought season in 2026, particularly on the agricultural sector and water availability. The rainy season is nearly over and BMKG has predicted that a long dry season lies ahead, said Deputy Governor Erwan Setiawan in a statement from Cirebon on Friday. He stressed that the situation needs to be anticipated early by local governments to prevent significant impacts on food production and on the water supply for communities. One of the steps the West Java Provincial Government is taking is to promote the development of water‑efficient agricultural commodities. ‘Sorghum requires relatively little water. If it were rice, corn, and other crops, they would be highly dependent on water, whereas sorghum does not,’ he said. In addition, local governments have been asked to optimise the use of embung that have been available as water reserves during the dry season. The provincial government is also working to safeguard water sources so that supply can meet demand when rainfall declines. Deputy Governor Erwan urged heads of districts across West Java to remind stakeholders in regencies and cities to safeguard existing water sources. He emphasised that embung or waduk in the region should not dry up during the dry season. ‘In the near term we will, together with BMKG, provide specific directions to regional heads in a coordination meeting to strengthen mitigation steps to address potential impacts of the dry season,’ said Deputy Governor Erwan Setiawan.