El Nino 2026 Impact: Aceh Rice Fields Face Delayed Planting for Gadu Season

The El Nino climate phenomenon, which began affecting Indonesia in mid-May 2026, is predicted to bring drought and a prolonged dry season until early 2027, posing a serious threat to the agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors and raising concerns over national food security. In Aceh Province, the early impacts of the dry season are already being felt, yet many farmers’ paddy fields remain in the land preparation stage or have not yet been planted for the Gadu (second planting) season. In Pidie Regency, planting delays have been observed in parts of Delima, Padang Tiji, and Muara Tiga sub-districts. These lagging areas are predominantly rain-fed rice fields that lack technical irrigation networks. Similar conditions are also occurring in Aceh Besar Regency, specifically in Seulimeum and Lembah Seulawah sub-districts. Muhammad Nasir, a farming community leader in Padang Tiji, stated that farmers have been urged to accelerate the planting process this Gadu season to avoid the risk of a water crisis during the crop’s growth and booting phases. ‘The call is in line with the government’s appeal. But what can we do, the situation on the ground is different. Farmers must proceed in stages or share the available water supply. Moreover, Padang Tiji is not a technical irrigation area,’ Nasir told Media Indonesia on Saturday (4/7). Field data indicates that the total paddy field area in Pidie Regency reaches approximately 56,504 hectares across 22 sub-districts. However, only about 60% of this total area can be planted during the Gadu season, with the remainder left fallow due to various constraints, primarily concerns over water shortages and the absence of irrigation networks. The planting delays amid the El Nino threat are feared to disrupt the stability of grain production in the region, given that average yields in Pidie can reach 5 to 6.2 tonnes per hectare under normal conditions.