Examining Tactics to Face the Lean Season

A prolonged dry season remains a significant threat to Indonesians. As of late September, very few regions in Indonesia have received rainfall, with much of the current precipitation being the result of weather modification operations conducted by local governments. The drought caused by the delayed arrival of rains, which is expected to persist until the latter half of 2026, is increasingly being felt by the Indonesian population, particularly in Java.

Similar to several regions in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), parts of East Java and West Java have entered a state of drought emergency. In Pati, residents and local authorities have been working to procure clean water to meet daily needs. Similar situations are occurring in other areas such as Tulungagung, Mojokerto, Tasikmalaya, and Cianjur.

The drought affecting Indonesia, especially in the nation’s primary food granaries, has raised alarms regarding food security vulnerability. Professor Dwi Andreas Santosa noted that the peak of El Niño hitting Indonesia will ultimately impact supply chains. Quoting detikEdu, the Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, stated that this condition will result in the rising prices of several food commodities.

“The rainy season this year is also expected to be delayed until November or December, with lower rainfall. As a result, the first planting season has the potential to shift, and rice production in 2027 is at risk of being pressured again,” said Andreas on Wednesday (30/9).

In response to this situation, at the central level, the Government has prepared several strategies to maintain price stability and strengthen food security. Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, mentioned that the government will strive to introduce new varieties and implement mechanisation to maximise food production in Indonesia.