Good Harvests Bring Hope to Survivors of Indonesian Tsunami

The devastating tsunami that struck 11 countries in the northern Indian Ocean on December 26 last year, destroyed vast areas of agricultural land. Initially scientist thought it would take years for the land to recover enough to produce crops, but many farmers have had great increases in crop yields from fields flooded by the massive wave. "According to U.N. surveys, 81 percent of the 116,000 acres of agricultural land damaged by tsunami waves in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, India and Thailand is again cultivable," writes Chris Brummitt of the Associated Press.

Agriculture in the region still suffers greatly. Large areas are still underwater or covered by sand, drainage systems are broken and many established trees were destroyed. Restoration and replanting will take time. In many villages there is a shortage of labour because so many people lost their lives.

Link: Tsunami Actually Aided Crops in Indonesia from Environmental News Network

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 1:22 PM on October 27, 2005