El Nino Peak Predicted in August, Government Prepares Antisipasi Drought Measures

Illustration of extreme drought (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) has ensured that it has prepared a number of anticipatory steps to face the El Nino phenomenon which is estimated to reach its peak in August 2026. Various efforts are being made to maintain agricultural production and national food security in the midst of the threat of drought which has the potential to spread.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Suwandi said the government is currently in a better position than the previous El Nino period. In addition to being supported by adequate rice reserves, the government has also prepared various anticipation steps at the central and regional levels.

According to Suwandi, the national rice stock stored in Perum Bulog warehouses currently reaches around 5.3 million tons, or the highest in history.

To face the dry season, which is expected to last longer, the Ministry of Agriculture has instructed local governments to strengthen the early warning system (EWS) and accelerate various mitigation steps in the field.

"Kementan continues to coordinate with all governors, regents to move in the field to take preventive measures. The contents of the letter are five items, namely taking early warning system measures. Then, during dry seasons, these water channels are an opportunity, these should be repaired, rehabilitated, all water channels should be transported so that they do not get stuck later during the rainy season," said Suwandi at the Government Communication Agency (Bakom) Building, Wednesday, June 17.

He explained that the government also asked the regions to conduct data collection on ponds, reservoirs, and various water sources that can still be used to support irrigation needs during the dry season.

In addition, the rehabilitation of irrigation networks, the construction of piping systems, the utilization of ponds, shallow wells, to pumping irrigation is continuously strengthened to maintain water supply for agricultural land.

One of the main steps taken by the government is the addition of water pumps in various food production centers.

"Currently, pumps that can reach 1 million hectares are being distributed. It must be installed in June-July so that when needed it is ready," said Suwandi.

According to him, the pumps that have been distributed in previous years are still operating and are able to serve irrigation of agricultural land up to about two million hectares. With the addition of new pumps, the area of land that can receive irrigation support is expected to increase.

On the cultivation side, the government is also encouraging the acceleration of the planting season in areas that still have adequate water availability. Farmers are directed to adjust the planting pattern to climatic conditions and choose varieties of plants that are more resistant to drought.

Commodities that require large water supplies are recommended to be replaced with plants that are more adaptive to the dry season so that the risk of crop failure can be suppressed.

In addition to adaptation measures, the government also strengthens protection for farmers through the Agricultural Business Insurance program.

The program provides compensation to farmers who experience crop failure or drought damage to land that has been registered as an insurance participant.

"There are also several areas that thank Farmers' Business Insurance. So if you get a failed harvest or puso, it has an insurance of Rp. 6 million per hectare for insured land," said Suwandi.

To support these efforts, the Ministry of Agriculture also proposed weather modification in cooperation with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in a number of areas that are potentially experiencing drought.

Suwandi is optimistic that the combination of anticipation, adaptation, and mitigation measures that the government has prepared can minimize the impact of El Nino on the national agricultural sector and maintain food production stable.

"This will give us certainty and readiness in early anticipation, adaptation, and mitigation steps. July, August, September we have prepared. Usually October there are signs of rain," he concluded.