El Niño Looms, Ministry of Agriculture Conducts Simultaneous Planting

The Ministry of Agriculture is accelerating simultaneous rice planting in 38 districts/cities in East Java to maintain food production amid the potential El Niño at the start of the dry season. This measure focuses on increasing the additional planting area (LTT) to ensure a stable rice supply.

The government targets an LTT increase of up to 3.4 per cent in one day, or double the previous achievement. Head of the Central Agency for Plant Pest Forecasting (BBPOPT) Yuris Tiyanto stated that the accelerated planting must directly impact production. “Through today’s movement, we hope the LTT increase can reach 3.4 per cent in one day or double that of the previous day. This is not ceremonial, but a movement that must have real impact,” said Yuris in Ngawi on Saturday (25/4/2026).

The planting movement is centred in Ngawi Regency and involves the Directorate General of Food Crops along with the East Java Provincial Government. The activity carries the theme “Sawah Bersholawat Supporting Sustainable Food Self-Sufficiency” while maintaining the positive trend in the agricultural sector.

Ministry of Agriculture data records that the planting area from October 2025 to March 2026 increased by 9.7 per cent. Rice production in the same period grew by more than 2 per cent compared to the previous year.

Yuris emphasised that East Java must maintain its position as the national food barn through increased productivity. “This activity is dedicated to achieving a prosperous East Java. We do not only want to appear as number one, but it must be accompanied by increased results. East Java must be one step ahead. For that, we must work together; we cannot go it alone. Cross-agency synergy is absolutely necessary,” said Yuris.

To accelerate realisation, the government is promoting faster land cultivation, optimisation of irrigation and water pumps, as well as cross-sector coordination between local governments, the TNI, extension workers, and farmers.

Control of plant-disturbing organisms (OPT) is strengthened through digital technology. The BBPOPT’s SIFORTUNA system is integrated into the Operation Room dashboard and used by the Presidential Staff Office to monitor production security.

“Through this technology, the potential for OPT attacks can be predicted earlier so that control measures can be carried out quickly and accurately,” said Yuris.