+ SOIL AMENDMENT

Desalination is the first priority to agricultural recovery on the affected area. Considering the limited availability of technological resources, the most effective method is through mechanical mixing of coarse materials into saline soil to improve efficiency of saline drainage. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Irrigation of Indonesia , the intensity of topical rain and the approaching monsoon season would bring in efficient rainfall to wash the soil. Therefore, improvement of soil drainage becomes the key to amend agricultural land. Coarse materials include sand and gravels are preferred, while rocks and pebbles are least preferable for building healthy agricultural soil in a long run. These materials, however, are preferably salt-free and relatively clean from sea debris. Chemically, the addition of organic matter, livestock manure, and gypsum would help to neutralize the alkaline extreme of the sodium in soil. Choice of material should be determined according to availability of resources.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forest of the Indonesian government has already looked into the options of soil amendment and developed assistance plan for the affected area. For more information, visit the website of Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia.

One easy and inexpensive source of organic material is through collecting woody or vegetative debris from the tsunami, cleanse and compost them into applicable organic material. Although labor-intensive, this method would help to alleviate logging activities that are associated with farming practices.  

+ WATER: IRRIGATION + DRAINAGE

Clean water supply remains to be a critical issue in the affected area. Currently, access to clean water for daily consumption and household usage still remains a challenge, water for irrigation therefore will remain a low priority before any strategic water storage plan is established. However, installation of satellite water collection features in individual shelter unit is being proposed. Once being installed, water for irrigation should be ensured.

Some landform features can also help to collect water for irrigation, or to prevent soil moisture loss physically. Irrigation in newly established gardens and farms are critical, especially with the presence of high salt content in soil. However, landform features should also have efficient field drainage system, especially because field flooding is commonplace in tropical rainy season.

+ RAINFALL + WET/DRY SEASON + TEMPERATURE + WIND

Climatic patterns are big part of design consideration, even though these patterns are not disrupted by the tsunami disaster. However, we should pay special attention to microclimate that is caused by the substantial loss of vegetation/forest cover destroyed during the disaster. The loss of vegetation masses implies less moisture held in land (vegetations, soil, and steam systems), higher temperature differences, and loss of macro/micro biological components that are benefitial to both agriculture and tropical ecology.

Please refer to Aceh Context > Sumatra for the local climate .

+ TOPOGRAPHY 

Along the west shoreline of the Sumatra Island is the windward terrain of which most rainfall is recorded. Lowland forest is found along the narrow strip of gentle sloping terrain spans around 200-300km, and steepness and attitude increases upland.