Dry Season Threatens Food Security, Here's Amran's Response
Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Andi Amran Sulaiman is optimistic that the El Niño phenomenon will not disrupt national food security. This confidence is based on the government’s readiness to strengthen food reserves, maintain production, and facilitate food distribution ahead of the peak dry season.
Amran stated that the government has anticipated the impact of El Niño well in advance by building robust government food reserves (CPP). According to him, the experience of dealing with El Niño in 2023 provided important lessons for formulating this year’s mitigation measures.
“We have indeed prepared well in advance to face El Niño. Based on our past experience in 2023, thank God we got through it. August to September is the dry season. God willing, our food supply is safe, especially rice,” said the official, who also serves as Minister of Agriculture, on Friday (17/7/2026).
He explained that rice self-sufficiency is a priority because this commodity accounts for more than half of the Indonesian population’s food consumption. Amran noted that Indonesia no longer imports medium-grade rice, having achieved self-sufficiency.
In addition to rice, Amran said Indonesia is also able to meet the needs of several other strategic commodities, such as chicken eggs, chicken meat, feed corn, shallots, and chillies. This condition strengthens the government’s optimism in maintaining food security amidst the threat of extreme weather.
“Why rice? Because more than 50 percent of every meal we eat consists of rice. Add eggs, we are also self-sufficient. Add chicken meat, we are self-sufficient. Feed corn, shallots, and chillies too. We supply the world with cooking oil. Our president is great. Today’s achievement is that our food is secure,” he said.
Based on Bapanas data as of 8 July 2026, the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) stock managed by Perum Bulog reached 5.2 million tonnes. The government also holds reserves of 188 thousand tonnes of feed corn, approximately 1.1 thousand kilolitres of cooking oil, around 2.79 thousand tonnes of sugar, and 38 tonnes of chicken meat.
Bapanas Principal Secretary Sarwo Edhy stated that the government continues to strengthen food reserves, increase production, facilitate distribution, and enhance collaboration with all stakeholders as part of its strategy to face El Niño.
“We must remain vigilant in facing El Niño with solid food reserves, continuously increasing production, stronger distribution, and collaboration among all our stakeholders,” Sarwo said.
For perishable commodities such as chillies, shallots, and purebred chicken eggs, Bapanas assesses that supply remains secure because national production is projected to exceed consumption needs throughout the year. This condition is expected to maintain supply stability and strengthen national food security during the dry season.