Be Aware of El Nino: Long Dry Season May Trigger Drought and Crop Failure

As we enter the 2026 dry season, the community is warned to be vigilant about the impact of the El Nino phenomenon, which is expected to cause drier weather and a longer dry season until early 2027.

This was stated by Panewu Berbah, Djaka Sumarsono, during the Kampung Hijau Socialization on Monday (25/5/2026) at the Ruang Gumregah Lantai 2 Kantor Kapanewon Berbah, Sleman.

Djaka explained that El Nino is a phenomenon of rising sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean that occurs periodically every three to seven years. This condition affects wind patterns and global atmospheric circulation, thereby impacting weather changes in several regions of Indonesia.

The impact of El Nino includes drier weather, rising temperatures, decreased rainfall, and the potential to cause drought and crop failure, which can affect national food security.

According to him, the regions that are potentially affected include Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Sumatra, parts of Kalimantan, and Sulawesi.

In addition to affecting the agricultural sector, El Nino also increases the risk of forest and land fires due to higher air temperatures and dry environmental conditions. Forest fires can damage ecosystems and trigger health problems, especially respiratory diseases caused by smoke.

Djaka added that the government and community need to take mitigation steps to reduce the impact of El Nino. These efforts include preparing wells and water pumps to face drought, choosing drought-resistant crop varieties, and conserving water resources through vegetation planting.

There are still many mitigation steps that can be taken to reduce the impact of El Nino.