2027 El Niño Predicted, Government Accelerates Rice Field Expansion Programme

JAKARTA - The Government is accelerating implementation of the national rice field expansion programme to anticipate the occurrence of El Niño in 2027.

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that rice field expansion is a crucial step to protect national food security. Amran made this statement whilst delivering a briefing during a Co-ordination Acceleration Meeting on the Completion of the Cetak Sawah Rakyat (CSR) programme at the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

He emphasised that food production must not falter amid the pressures of climate change. El Niño is a climate phenomenon that results in significantly reduced rainfall in Indonesia, leading to prolonged and severe dry seasons.

The Government is targeting 225,000 hectares of new rice fields by 2025. Of these, 110,000 hectares are currently being completed and distributed across 19 provinces including Gorontalo, South-East Sulawesi, Central Papua, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Bengkulu, South Kalimantan, Jambi, West Sulawesi, South-West Papua, South Sulawesi, West Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, Riau, North Kalimantan, and Mountainous Papua.

Meanwhile, the 2026 rice field expansion target has been raised to 250,000 hectares to strengthen the foundation of national food production. According to Amran, the rice field expansion programme must be accelerated given the threat of El Niño in the coming year.

He referenced the moment when the global community faced a food crisis during the 2023-2024 El Niño, when 22 countries halted rice exports to other nations. Given Indonesia’s large population, the Government views food supply as an absolute priority.

“If food is in trouble, the nation is in trouble. No country can survive if its food supply is disrupted,” said Amran.

Furthermore, Amran assessed that the involvement of Babinsa (village-level military personnel) in addressing climate change represents strategic collaboration. According to him, during critical periods all elements of society must be involved in maintaining production.

Amran also expressed gratitude to the Babinsa personnel who have overseen the acceleration of rice field expansion. “My respects to the Babinsa who have contributed to achieving food self-sufficiency. This is a tangible contribution to the nation,” said Amran.