The Most Vulnerable Plants Affected by El Nino, Agricultural Productivity Threatened to Decline

Illustration (ANTARA/Suriani Mappong)

YOGYAKARTA - The El Nino phenomenon which is predicted to last until early 2027 has a major impact on the agricultural sector. This condition is usually characterized by long drought, warmer temperatures, and erratic rainfall. For agrarian countries like Indonesia, this situation is a serious threat to food security.

The biggest impact of El Nino for the agricultural sector is the reduced availability of water for plants. Many agricultural areas in Indonesia still rely on rain as the main source of irrigation. When the rain comes late or is greatly reduced, a number of food commodities are threatened with crop failure.

The Most Vulnerable Plants Affected by El Nino

Researcher at the Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia, Eliza Mardian said rice is the type of crop that is most vulnerable to El Nino. This plant requires a large amount of water, especially during the flowering and filling phase.

"Rice is very vulnerable because it needs a lot of water, especially the flowering and seed filling phases. Rain-fed rice fields and simple irrigation are most affected (drought)," said Eliza, quoted from ANTARA.

When water supply is disrupted, rice yields can drop drastically and even lead to crop failure.

In addition to rice, corn is also a crop that is quite vulnerable to the impact of El Nino. Although its water needs are not as large as rice, corn is still vulnerable to drought, especially during the flowering phase. In this condition, pollination can be disrupted so that the number of seeds formed becomes less.

In Indonesia, corn is often planted in dry land or during the dry season. This makes corn plants more vulnerable if the drought lasts longer than usual. Without good water management, corn productivity can decrease significantly.

In addition to the two types of plants above, soybeans are also vulnerable to El Nino. Launching Elicit Plant, this plant is very dependent on water availability during the flowering and pod formation phase. If there is a water shortage in that phase, the harvest can drop drastically and the quality of the seeds decreases.

According to Eliza, the target for national food production is still likely to be achieved if mitigation steps are carried out properly and efficiently.

"The production target can still be achieved as long as mitigation is carried out effectively and efficiently. So it all depends on the mix of policies taken," he said.

In this case, Eliza emphasized that the government needed to strengthen policy synergies, ranging from the provision of superior seeds, increased extension services, water management, to a rapid response to pest and disease attacks.

Eliza emphasized that the handling of El Nino cannot only rely on one instrument, but must combine seed readiness, water management, extension, and land management to keep food production stable.

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