Farmers become 'fishermen' at Situ Ciburuy as dry season brings bounty

As the dry season grips West Bandung Regency, the normally agricultural community of Ciburuy transforms. Wahyudin, a 49-year-old farmer, wades into the shrinking Situ Ciburuy, net in hand, seeking a different kind of harvest. The receding waters, a consequence of the dry spell, create an opportunity for villagers to become temporary fishermen.

"When the water recedes, we often go fishing in Situ Ciburuy. We can't do it during the rainy season because the water is too full," Wahyudin told Republika. The lake, originally built in the late 1800s by a Dutch settler, now exposes large swathes of land as its water level drops.

Wahyudin, like others in the village, finds that the shallower water makes fish easier to catch. He typically starts his fishing expeditions around 1 p.m., sometimes walking through the knee-deep water instead of using a raft. The catch, which can be around 5 kilograms, is usually sold for Rp 30,000 per kilogram.

"Sometimes we catch a lot, sometimes a little. But selling them usually brings in a decent amount. I'm usually a farmer," Wahyudin explained. He anticipates the dry season will continue until the end of the year, allowing him to continue this seasonal fishing to support his family's economy.