"This one location in Bekasi district, what we noted according to satellite imaging, there are some six thousand hectares of farms inundated," the minister said while reviewing farms affected by floods in Sukabakti village, Tambelang sub-district, on Wednesday.
Local apparatus also reported that some 700 hectares of farms in Tambelang sub-district have been flooded, he added.
“Currently, we are discussing with regional governments, talking about what measures that need to be taken in the future," the minister disclosed.
The ministry and the Bekasi government will coordinate to perform three measures to address the problem, Minister Limpo said. The first is to collect data on the inundated farmlands and classify their conditions.
The measure would allow authorities to devise a priority scale, based on the damage, and formulate proper measures and compensation for handling it, he explained.
“(This will also involve) Accurately collecting data to classify the worst impacted area, (and identify) area with average damage, and area which can be saved," he said.
Minister Limpo further said that he was committed to assisting the regional government in offering compensation to farmers whose farmlands have been damaged beyond saving. The aid that the ministry will provide to the farmers will include seeds and other supporting systems, he informed.
The second measure is to provide water pumps to farmers whose plots have been flooded. Limpo said that the ministry will send many of the pumps it has.
"God Willing, today or tomorrow, the water pumps, which can be of use here, (we will send them)," he said.
The third measure is to provide immediate assistance to farmers until they can start planting again so as to prevent them from suffering losses.
The minister said he expects that every three days, the progress made on those three initiatives would be reported.
"All directorate generals in the Agriculture Ministry will work together with regional governments whose areas have been flooded," he added.
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Translator: Pradita K S, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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