Semarang, Central Java (ANTARA) - The Central Java provincial government has prepared several mitigation schemes to deal with the El Nino phenomenon, which could prolong the dry season and reduce rainfall.
"The mitigation schemes include releasing government food reserves from the district/city logistics agencies (Bulog) and optimizing village funds. We have prepared food loss and food waste campaigns," Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo informed here on Wednesday.
Pranowo said, local stocks of food, such as rice, corn, and cassava, have been reserved for emergencies.
His side has also strengthened the health sector to anticipate any potential diseases that may arise during the El Nino season.
According to Pranowo , the efforts are based on the experiences from the 2019 El Nino that prevailed over Central Java for nine months.
Moreover, several measures have been prepared in regions prone to drought, such as Brebes, Tegal, Demak, Jepara, Pati, Rembang, Blora, and Wonogiri districts.
"The peak of the drought is predicted to happen between July and August 2023, but if the El Nino lasts longer, it could be dangerous. We have mapped all the points that are vulnerable to drought," he said.
Each regional apparatus organization must prepare itself in order to meet the needs of the community during the El Nino phenomenon, he stressed.
He also invited the community in Central Java to participate in drought mitigation by growing food crops from home, among other things.
"We ask people to maintain food production and encourage households to grow their own food as well. We prepare fisheries, farm animals, and plantations," he said.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has predicted that Indonesia will experience El Nino this year.
As the El Nino peak is predicted to occur in August 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture has been preparing mitigation measures to reduce the risk of crop failures at the farmer level. (INE)