Drought in Indonesia causes crop failures and forces farmers to change professions

Prolonged drought conditions across several regions in Indonesia are causing significant agricultural distress and forcing shifts in local livelihoods. In Magetan, East Java, dozens of hectares of farmland in Sidomulyo Village are facing potential crop failure. Horticultural crops, including tomatoes, chilies, spring onions, and eggplants, are suffering from severe water shortages, with some plants already showing signs of wilting or death.

In Lebak Regency, Banten, the impact of the El Nino phenomenon has been so severe that hundreds of farmers have been forced to abandon their fields. In the Tambakbaya area, approximately 250 farmers have transitioned to other occupations, such as construction laborers, street vendors, or migrant workers in cities like Jakarta and Tangerang. In Rangkasbitung, around 150 farmers have similarly sought alternative income through manual labor or small-scale trading to sustain their families while waiting for more favorable planting conditions.