JAKARTA — Indonesia’s weather agency warned farmers to adjust their farming activities to mitigate risks stemming from the extreme dry weather expected this year, according to a government statement on Friday.
As of June, around 38% of Indonesia’s seasonal zones have entered the dry season, while 47% of the zones have experienced lower than normal rain volume, Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan, an official with the country’s weather agency (BMKG) said in the statement.
The dry season, which will be impacted this year by the El Nino weather pattern, is expected to peak sometime between July to September, he said.
Sopaheluwakan urged farmers to make adjustments to their farming activities due to the intensifying El Nino effects.
“For the agricultural sector, several crucial steps that need to be implemented immediately include adjusting planting schedules, optimizing the use of dry-resistant and early-maturing plant varieties, and diversifying food crops,” he said.