Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir, KOTABARI.COM – A corn farmer in Lunas Jaya Village, Tanah Abang Subdistrict, PALI Regency, South Sumatra, named Rison, has faced a grim fate due to the recent flooding in the region. Submersion of his agricultural land for nearly two weeks has resulted in a failed harvest, compelling Rison to prematurely cut down the corn crops that were on the verge of bearing fruit, with the intention of providing feed for his cattle.
Rison revealed that his 2-hectare farmland was submerged due to the overflow of the Lematang River. This unfortunate circumstance rendered the thousands of corn plants, which had just started flowering and were about to bear fruit, futile. “It’s been 10 days, almost two weeks submerged in floods. When the fields are inundated like this, the corn crops are guaranteed to fail,” he lamented.
Witnessing the situation, Rison decided to salvage what was left of the corn crops by utilizing them as feed for his cattle. “As the flood still hasn’t receded until today, especially with continuous rain. The river water has risen up to chest level here. So, it’s better to harvest them for cattle feed,” he explained.
The failed harvest not only inflicted emotional distress on Rison but also significant financial losses. He estimated the damages to exceed Rp 15 million, covering the expenses for corn planting, including seeds, land plowing, and chicken manure fertilizer. “Not to mention the chemical fertilizers and weed killers. So, the total cost from planting to harvesting could easily surpass Rp 15 million,” he disclosed.
Despite experiencing the painful setback, Rison conveyed his acceptance of the situation. He expressed hope that once the flood recedes, he can gather the necessary funds to resume corn cultivation. However, at present, securing the required funds poses a challenge. “I hope that when the flood subsides, I can obtain funds to start planting again. But if there’s no capital now, I still need to find it first,” he stated, expressing optimism for a brighter future.