Indonesia, July 11 -- Drought during the dry season is an annual challenge on Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara, one of Indonesia's key rice-producing regions.

In the southern part of the island, farmers find the ground cracking under the scorching sun. River water levels continue to decline, forcing water pumps to operate longer to extract groundwater for irrigating paddy fields.

Some farmers even choose to delay planting rather than risk losses from crop failure. Instead, tobacco is commonly cultivated during the dry season because it requires relatively little water.

Meanwhile, several kilometers to the west of Lombok Island, freshwater flows abundantly from the highlands to the sea through the Meninting River, which originates on t...