Farmers in Bantul Use Rain Ponds to Cope with Drought

Farmers in Nawungan, Bantul, Indonesia are building hundreds of rain ponds to collect water in the dry, hilly area. These ponds allow them to farm year-round and grow high-value crops like red onions and chili peppers. The success of the ponds depends on the area’s clay-rich soil and geography, as research from Gadjah Mada University shows they effectively capture rainwater on slopes.

Currently, around 556 ponds exist in Nawungan, supporting roughly 120 hectares of farmland. One farmer, Sabaryanti, now harvests three crops a year thanks to a pond holding 80 cubic meters of water.

However, the changing climate is disrupting the ponds’ effectiveness. Unpredictable rainfall means water supplies are depleting faster, sometimes even during the rainy season.

Farmers are now relying on deep wells as a temporary solution while also promoting reforestation to maintain groundwater levels. Increased pest and fungal attacks, linked to climate change, are also raising production costs. The work to secure water access continues as farmers prepare for a potentially long drought due to the “Godzilla” El Niño.