Banyuasin, KOTABARI.COM – The recent heatwave has left several vegetable farmers in Rawa Maju Subdistrict, Banyuasin Regency, deeply concerned. They find themselves in a state of confusion and worry as their water supply for irrigating crops has dwindled significantly.
Farmers in this area are facing an uphill battle to keep their crops alive. They are resorting to clever tactics, such as using spray tanks to irrigate their fields, to prevent wastage of precious water. Using machinery to water their crops would deplete their water reserves rapidly, leaving the plants undernourished.
Waidi, a tomato farmer, explained, “If we don’t water the plants, they’ll wither and die. With water in such short supply, we have to water each stem individually.” Irrigation during this scorching summer season needs to be carried out at least three times a day—morning, afternoon, and evening. Without adequate watering, tomato plants are bound to perish.
Farmers are also compelled to purchase water from the Sukomoro Subdistrict, which is also needed for their daily needs. This situation places an additional financial burden on them. “Our expenses have increased because we have to buy water. Normally, when it’s not as hot, we can use well water. However, now our wells have run dry, especially with the lack of rain,” said Waidi.
Waidi confessed that he is doing his utmost to keep his tomato plants alive, even if it means watering each stem individually. This is because the current price of tomatoes is relatively high, ranging from Rp 5,500 to Rp 6,000 per kilogram.
Nuryadi, another farmer cultivating vegetables like water spinach and mustard greens, is facing a similar predicament. The scorching weather compels farmers to irrigate their crops more frequently to prevent them from wilting and dying. “The heat is unbearable; that’s why we have to water more often. We are approaching harvest time, so it would be a shame if our crops were to wither and die,” he added.
The drought affecting this region poses a severe threat to the livelihoods of farmers, who are grappling with both economic and environmental challenges. They hope for improved weather conditions and rain soon to address this issue and keep their agriculture productive.