Agriculture Ministry Urges Farmers to Adopt Drought-Resistant Rice Varieties as Early Dry Season Approaches in 2026
JAKARTA – Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman is urging farmers to use drought-resistant rice varieties to prepare for an earlier dry season expected in 2026.
Amran stated that he has instructed regional government officials to anticipate the dry season by mapping drought-prone areas and strengthening early warning systems.
The Agriculture Ministry is also accelerating optimal water management through irrigation networks, water pump systems, and piping infrastructure.
“Farmers should utilise early-maturing and drought-resistant varieties such as Inpago 4–13, Inpari 38–46, Situbagendit, Situpatenggang, Padjadjaran, Cakrabuana, or similar varieties to maintain production even during the dry season,” Amran said in an official statement on Sunday, 15 March 2026.
The dry season is expected to arrive earlier in parts of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, southern and eastern Kalimantan, Maluku, parts of Sulawesi, and Papua.
The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned that without proper preparation, the situation could increase the risk of agricultural land drought.
The Head of the Agricultural Assembly and Modernisation Agency (BRMP), Fadjry Djufry, stated that the Agriculture Ministry has developed several superior varieties capable of adapting to dry conditions.
These varieties have been engineered to grow and produce rice even with limited water supply. The harvest period is also relatively short.
“Drought-tolerant rice varieties such as Inpari 38 through Inpari 46, as well as upland rice varieties from the Inpago group, are designed to maintain productivity under conditions of limited water availability,” said Fadjry.
“There are also early-maturing varieties such as Padjadjaran and Cakrabuana that can be harvested faster, helping crops avoid the dry period,” he added.
BMKG has also encouraged the widespread adoption of drought-resistant varieties by farmers. “Particularly in drought-prone areas or rain-fed fields, so that national rice production remains intact and food security can continue to be strengthened,” Fadjry noted.
Previously, BMKG announced that the dry season would arrive earlier and last longer than normal in 325 weather zones.
The phenomenon of a drier dry season cannot be separated from the development of El Niño. “From mid-2026 onwards, our prediction indicates a 50–60 per cent chance of weak to moderate El Niño. Meanwhile, Indian Ocean Dipole conditions are predicted to remain neutral throughout 2026,” said BMKG Deputy for Climatology Ardhasena on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.