Indonesian Villagers Sell Livestock to Buy Water Amid Severe Drought

In the Kemesu village of Rongkop, Gunungkidul, residents are resorting to selling their livestock, mainly chickens, to secure essential clean water during the ongoing drought. This difficult measure has become a yearly necessity for the approximately 68 households in the village who face water scarcity from April or May through the dry season.

Sutopo, a 46-year-old resident, explained that his village lacks its own water sources and relies solely on rainwater harvesting. Existing public water connections only provide water once a week. "We have been facing difficulties with water for many years," Sutopo stated, noting that the majority of villagers are farmers. Many younger residents have moved to cities for work, leaving behind elderly parents who must sell what they own to survive.

Selling livestock, particularly chickens, has become a customary practice for the villagers. Sutopo himself has sold his homegrown chickens twice this year. An adult chicken fetches around 40,000 Indonesian rupiah ($2.50), while a tank of clean water from Pracimantoro, Wonogiri, costs approximately 120,000 rupiah ($7.50). This single tank typically lasts a household for one to two weeks and also provides drinking water for any remaining livestock.

"It's not selling cows or goats on a large scale, no. We just reduce one or sell some chickens, and we can buy water," Sutopo clarified. He added that since settling in Kemesu in 2012, he has had to rely on his earnings and available resources to purchase water after the rainy season ends. Despite receiving some government aid, Sutopo and other residents hope the government will help identify new water sources and establish deep wells in their area to alleviate the recurring crisis.