9-8-2023 (JAKARTA) Karanganyar Villagers Resort to Digging Dry River Bed in Desperate Search for Drinking Water amidst Severe Drought. In the face of an ongoing drought caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon, residents of Karanganyar village in Central Java province, Indonesia, have resorted to desperate measures to secure water for their basic needs. With no rainfall in sight for the past four months, the villagers have been left with no choice but to dig up the dry river bed in search of water.
Sunardi, a tobacco farmer in the village, explained that the drought has been taking its toll on the community since April, leaving the wells dry and rendering traditional water sources unusable. In order to quench their thirst, wash and irrigate their crops, the villagers have turned to the salty and muddy water that fills the freshly dug holes in the river bed.
“The plants here, such as corn, have all withered. Tobacco can survive, but it doesn’t grow optimally, so we have to keep watering it with the river bed water too,” Sunardi shared with Reuters.
The phenomenon isn’t limited to Karanganyar village alone. Indonesia’s weather agency, BMKG, has reported that more than two-thirds of the country, including Java, Kalimantan, and parts of Sumatra, are grappling with the impacts of the El Niño-induced drought. This affects over 70% of Indonesia’s population, which exceeds 200 million people.
The scorching heatwaves triggered by El Niño have resulted in record-breaking temperatures across various cities, from Beijing to Rome, posing a significant risk of forest fires and wreaking havoc on vital crops such as wheat, palm oil, and rice. Agriculture, which contributes nearly 14% to Indonesia’s GDP and employs a third of the country’s labor force, is bearing the brunt of the crisis.
Tris Adi Sukoco, an official at BMKG in Central Java, suggested that farmers like Sunardi should consider altering their crop patterns in response to the drastically reduced rainfall rates in the region. However, for many, it may be too late to implement such measures.
Even as the river beds run dry, the villagers of Karanganyar remain determined to find water wherever they can, no matter the hardships they face. Their struggle serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustainable solutions and support to mitigate the devastating effects of the ongoing drought.
As the El Niño-induced drought continues to grip various parts of Indonesia, communities like Karanganyar village are left grappling with the dire consequences of water scarcity.
