Now the farm lands in the village of Air Sebakul of Talang Empat have no source of water.Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - Hundreds of hectares of rice fields in the sub-district of Talang Empat in the regency of Bengkulu Utara of the Bengkulu province, Sumatra Island, have been converted into oil palm plantations.
The conversion began after the Bengkulu Tengah formerly part of the regency of Bengkulu Utara was promoted in status into a new regency four years earlier, Trisno, former chief of the village of Air Sebakul said here on Monday.
Earlier irrigation system was well maintained before the region was split into two regencies.
Now the farm lands in the village of Air Sebakul of Talang Empat have no source of water for irrigation, Trisno said.
Earlier farm lands in the village depended largely on irrigation water from Bengkulu Tengah.
The farmers, therefore, were forced to use their farm lands to grow oil palm trees which do not need water as much as rice crops, Trisno said.
Some farmers prompted to grow rubber which is more profitable and does not need much fertilization like oil palm trees.
(Uu.AS/H-ASG/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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