Extreme Weather And National Food Security Threats In Indonesia, How Dangerous Is It?

YOGYAKARTA - Indonesia as an agrarian and maritime country is very vulnerable to the impact of climate change. In recent years, extreme weather frequencies and intensities such as flash floods, long droughts, and season shifts have increased. This phenomenon is no longer just an environmental issue, but has turned into a real threat to national food security. Then, how will the impact of extreme weather affect food security in Indonesia? Here's the explanation!

Reporting from Antara, the impact of extreme weather on the agricultural sector which is the main pillar of food security is very complex and multiphase. On the one hand, flooding that hit food production centers, as has happened in several areas of Java and Sumatra, not only damages crops that are ready to be harvested, but also erodes the fertile soil layer (topsoil) and damages irrigation infrastructure. For this reason, thousands of hectares of rice fields failed to harvest whose immediate impact has an impact on the shrinking of the national rice stock.

On the other hand, the prolonged dry season and drier than usual is also a no less serious threat. Areas that depend on rain, such as in the Nusa Tenggara region, experience severe water deficits. Food crops such as rice, corn, and soybeans experience water stress which causes stunted growth and productivity to decrease drastically. The impact of the long dry season also triggers pest attacks and plant diseases that are increasingly difficult to control.

In addition to floods and drought, erratic weather patterns make farmers' growing calendars chaotic. The season forecast, which was previously a guide for farmers in planting, is now difficult to rely on. The erratic pattern of weather changes makes farmers often make the wrong time of planting, which then leads to crop failure when the rain comes late or is just excessive.

This threat has the potential to trigger multidimensional turmoil. The decline in national food production can encourage an increase in the prices of staple commodities in the market. Food inflation will burden people's purchasing power, especially low-income groups, and has the potential to trigger social insecurity. Dependence on food imports as a buffer may be a short-term solution, but in the long term this actually drives national food security and burdens the state budget.

Due to these conditions, Indonesia needs to take strategic steps to overcome extreme weather so that it does not have too much impact on national food security, these steps are like:

First, adaptive agricultural infrastructure development must be intensified. Efficient construction and repair of reservoirs, reservoirs, and irrigation systems is key to tackling drought problems and optimizing water use. This infrastructure can also function to accommodate excess water in the rainy season.

Second, the development and dissemination of superior plant varieties that are resistant to drought, inundation, and attacks of pests and disease need to be accelerated. This adaptive seed innovation is the farmer's main weapon in dealing with uncertain weather conditions.

Third, strengthening the early warning system and effective agricultural counseling are very important. Accurate and easily accessible weather information by farmers can help them in making decisions on appropriate planting times and other anticipatory measures.

Fourth, local food diversification must be encouraged. Excessive dependence on rice must be reduced by encouraging consumption of other local carbohydrate sources, such as sago, cassava, corn, and tubers. This not only enriches nutrition but also increases food security at the regional level.

Extreme weather is a tough test for Indonesia's food security. This challenge cannot be faced with a business as usual approach. A strong commitment from all stakeholders is needed, ranging from the government, researchers, the private sector, to farmers themselves, to build a more resilient, adaptive, and sustainable agricultural system. Our success in securing food today will determine the sovereignty and stability of the nation in the future.

Such is the review of extreme weather and the threat of national food security in Indonesia. Hopefully this information will be useful! Visit VOI.id to get other interesting information.