Jakarta (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has\nstated that national rice production and surplus remain maintained, so\nthe government is optimistic it can face the potential impact of the El\nNino phenomenon by safeguarding public food availability.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are optimistic that national rice production is safe even though\nStatistics Indonesia (BPS) projects a decline in rice production in\nJanuary-October 2026,\u201d the minister said when confirmed in Jakarta on\nSunday.<\/p>\n
According to him, the production decline projected by BPS needs to be\nviewed proportionally when compared with total national production.<\/p>\n
BPS estimates national rice production for January-October 2026 will\nreach 31.41 million tonnes, down 0.08 percent compared with the same\nperiod in 2025, which reached around 31.44 million tonnes. Meanwhile,\npaddy production in the form of dry unhusked grain is projected to reach\n54.52 million tonnes, also down 0.08 percent.<\/p>\n
The minister assessed that this figure needs to be viewed\nproportionally against total national production. With a production base\nof around 34.7 million tonnes, a 0.08 percent decline is equivalent to\nonly around 30,000 tonnes.<\/p>\n
\u201cTry multiplying 0.08 percent by 34.7 million tonnes of national rice\nproduction. That 0.08 percent is only 30,000 tonnes, very small compared\nwith 34.7 million tonnes,\u201d the minister explained.<\/p>\n
Amran is optimistic that national production remains in a strong\nposition because Indonesia has recorded a food surplus. He said\nIndonesia recorded a surplus of around 4 million tonnes last year and is\nagain in a surplus position this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year the surplus was 4 million tonnes, and this year as well,\nright? 30,000 tonnes are lost due to reduced production. Meanwhile we\nhave had a 4 million tonne surplus twice, so how?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the government continues to monitor production\ndevelopments and does not take lightly the challenges faced by farmers.\nMoreover, current climate conditions are putting pressure on the\nagricultural sector.<\/p>\n
However, various mitigation measures have been prepared by the\ngovernment to keep production safe.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Agriculture continues to strengthen pump irrigation\nand irrigation systems, increase productivity, and encourage the use of\nseeds that are more resistant to drought.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it is natural for a decline to occur because of climate\nconditions, but with that decline it is extraordinary, this is the\nextreme El Nino Godzilla climate. That is why we are going down,\ninstalling pumps, we must not give up,\u201d the minister stressed.<\/p>\n
He said the government had made preparations well in advance to\nanticipate the impact of El Nino. Besides ensuring water availability\nthrough pump irrigation and irrigation systems, the government is also\nencouraging productivity improvements through cultivation\ntechnology.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, God willing, we will mitigate the impact of El Nino. Why?\nBecause we prepared well in advance. First, pump irrigation; second,\nirrigation; third, we are doubling production like this, from 5 tonnes\nof paddy per hectare to 10 tonnes, from 6 tonnes to 11 tonnes. Then\nthere are drought-resistant seeds,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
These efforts are part of the government\u2019s strategy to maintain food\nproduction amid climate challenges. The government is not only\nmaintaining the harvested area but also encouraging productivity so that\nproduction per hectare continues to increase.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, BPS has stressed that the October 2026 production\nfigure it released is still a potential or projected figure, not a final\nfigure. Actual production may still change depending on planting\nconditions and harvest developments up to October.<\/p>\n
With the figure still being a projection, production developments\nuntil the end of the period will still be determined by planting\nconditions and actual harvests. The government is also continuing to\nstrengthen mitigation on the ground to ensure climate challenges do not\ndisrupt national food security.<\/p>\n
Amran stressed that the government will continue to be present among\nfarmers to maintain production. The various early interventions are\nexpected to sustain productivity while ensuring that the public\u2019s food\nneeds remain secure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must not let farmers walk alone; we must step in,\u201d said\nAmran.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minister-says-rice-production-and-surplus-maintained-ready-to-face-el-nino-1788713516", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }