Maintaining Food Production Safety During El Nino

El Nino is expected to impact Indonesia's food production, and the government is taking measures to mitigate its effects. The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has predicted that El Nino will occur in 2026, with varying intensities.

The BMKG has forecasted that most of Indonesia will experience a dry season, with some areas expected to be drier than usual. The agency has also predicted that the peak of the dry season will occur in July, August, and September.

To address the challenges posed by El Nino, the government has implemented various interventions, including the provision of irrigation facilities, conservation of water, and rehabilitation of irrigation networks. The Ministry of Agriculture has also set a target to increase rice production to 35.69 million tons in 2026.

The government has also collaborated with other ministries and agencies to support farmers, including the provision of aid for irrigation and the optimization of dry land. With these interventions, the government hopes to increase the index of planting and support farmers in producing food despite the challenges posed by El Nino.