Loss in Agriculture Due to MT Kelud Eruption Reaches Billions

Jakarta (Antara) - The recent eruption of Mount Kelud in East Java province has caused tremendous damage to agriculture in the region. Agriculture minister Suswono stated here on Tuesday that the loss could reach Rp337.54 billion. In view of that, the minister said his department will immediately conduct relief operations, including providing rice, corn, vegetables, fruits and seeds, at a press conference. He noted that his office is still making an inventory of the amount of seeds and budget that will be needed for the effort. He said the most affected agricultural products were food crops, such as rice, corn, chili, tomatoes and soybean, after their fields were covered by thick volcanic ash following the eruption. The other affected commodities are coffee, cocoa, sugarcane, oranges, apples, durian and mangoes, with the damage ranging from marginal to serious. Suswono remarked that his ministry will rehabilitate agricultural fields that have been covered by volcanic ash. "Cocoa and coffee trees that are still alive will be immediately looked after, while those that have died will be replaced," he said. He also stated that assistance will be given in the form of animal feed as volcanic materials have covered much of the agricultural lands, making it difficult for farmers to provide feed for their cattle. (*)