Indonesia's Cipancuh Dam runs dry, threatening thousands of hectares of farmland

The Cipancuh Dam in Indramayu, West Java, has completely dried up, leaving farmers in several sub-districts facing the threat of crop failure. Water levels at the dam have reached zero, transforming the once-full reservoir into dry land with only small puddles remaining.

This critical situation has forced local residents to catch fish stranded in the dam's muddy bottom. More importantly, it jeopardizes the irrigation for thousands of hectares of rice paddies that depend on the Cipancuh Dam for water. Farmers in the Haurgeulis sub-district, in particular, are now solely reliant on the Cipunegara River, whose water flow is also limited.

Sutatang, the head of the Kabupaten Indramayu Farmers and Fishermen Contact Association (KTNA), confirmed the dire situation. "Haurgeulis sub-district has always received its water supply directly from the Cipancuh Dam. Now, automatically, we can only rely on water from the Cipunegara River," he stated. The ongoing drought poses a significant challenge to the region's agricultural output, raising concerns about food security.

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Haurgeulis sub-district has always received its water supply directly from the Cipancuh Dam. Now, automatically, we can only rely on water from the Cipunegara River.