Jakarta – Traditional Javanese cropping patterns that have relied on an ancient calendar system, pranata mangsa, are now being disrupted by the impact of climate change. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated that weather uncertainty due to global climate change has made this agricultural calendar system no longer accurate, affecting the productivity and livelihood of local farmers.
The head of BMKG, Dwikorita Karnawati, explained that changes in weather patterns have disrupted the natural cycles on which the pranata mangsa is based. “The pranata mangsa calendar that Javanese farmers have relied on is no longer as reliable as it used to be. Climate change has made seasonal patterns erratic,” Dwikorita said in a press statement, Thursday, November 14.
Pranata mangsa is a traditional agricultural calendar system that has been used by Javanese farmers for hundreds of years. It is based on the sun’s orbit and natural signs such as rain, wind and temperature changes. However, due to climate change, the weather patterns on which the calendar is based are often off, making it difficult for farmers to determine the right planting time.
“Farmers used to be able to predict when to start planting rice just by looking at natural signs, but now that is no longer possible. Phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña are becoming more frequent, disrupting planting and harvest seasons,” Dwikorita said.
Launch climate field school program
To address the uncertainty caused by climate change, BMKG has launched the Climate Field School Program since 2011. The program aims to train farmers to read more modern weather and climate data, replacing traditional knowledge that is no longer fully accurate.
“We train farmers to access more accurate weather information through digital technology. This is important so that they can adapt to increasingly uncertain climate conditions,” Dwikorita said.
The program involves collaboration between BMKG, the Ministry of Agriculture, and regional agriculture offices. Through this program, farmers are taught how to use the InfoBMKG application, which provides real-time weather information down to the sub-district scale.
Since its launch in 2018, the app, with more than 5 million downloads, has become an essential tool for farmers in planning their agricultural activities. According to BMKG data, the app’s resolution of weather information can reach up to the sub-district scale, allowing farmers to get more accurate and timely forecasts.
This initiative is expected to help farmers in Java and other regions adapt to changing climate conditions so that agricultural productivity is maintained and Indonesia’s food security can be achieved in the future. (Hartatik)
