Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (AntaraNews NTT) - East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) succeeded only in opening 446 hectares of new rice fields in 2017 or falling short of the target of 667 hectares, a local official said here on Monday.
Yos Umbu Wanda, in charge of infrastructure and facility at the provincial agriculture office, said the central government set aside a budget for opening 667 hectares of new rice fields in 14 districts of the province made up of many small islands.
The 14 districts include Kupang, Nagekeo, Manggarai, Sikka, Flores Timur and Timor Tengah Selatan (TTS).
Yos said the opening of new rice fields in cooperation with the military failed to reach the target many of the islands are not fit for rice fields with inadequate water supply for irrigation.
"Based on our evaluation , the main problem is inadequate availability of water amid long drought," he said, adding it was not possible for the farmers and the military to risk harvest failure under such condition.
