Facing Godzilla El Niño, Amran States Rice Stocks Sufficient for 15 Months

JAKARTA - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that the national rice stocks are projected to meet needs for up to 15 months ahead. This projection was made amid the threat of El Niño, referred to as Godzilla El Niño. Amran estimated that rice availability could last until March 2027, when Indonesia enters the rainy season again. “The remaining 15 months. By March it will be the rainy season again, by February it will be the rainy season,” Amran said at the Ministry of Agriculture office in Jakarta on Monday (30/3/2026). Stocks in the household sector as well as hotels, restaurants, and catering reach 12.5 million tonnes. In addition, there is potential from unharvested rice crops or standing crops of around 11 million tonnes. Production is also expected to continue during the El Niño period. The Ministry of Agriculture projects a minimum production of 2 million tonnes per month during the six-month dry season, from April to October. “If six months plus another six months of production of two million, that means 12 million tonnes. During the dry season, El Niño, Godzilla and so on, production of 12 million tonnes. Adding 12 million tonnes means it can last five months. 10 means it can last 15 months,” he said. The government stated that preparations to face extreme weather are better than before. The experience in 2023 serves as a reference, when plans to import 10 million tonnes of rice were reduced to 3.7 million tonnes. Anticipatory measures are taken through the provision of tens of thousands of water pumps, optimisation of land, and the construction of irrigation infrastructure. The Ministry of Public Works is building irrigation for one million hectares of land and adding another one million hectares in 2026. “So our preparations are far better than before. Because previously we anticipated food on one side by importing, now our stocks are plentiful,” Amran said. This phenomenon does not occur evenly. Eastern regions such as Sulawesi, Maluku, and Halmahera have the potential for high rainfall. BRIN projects that El Niño will occur from April to October, coinciding with the dry season. “This phenomenon has the potential to trigger drought that can impact various sectors, including agriculture and water resources,” said researcher from the BRIN Center for Climate and Atmospheric Research Prof Erma Yulihastin in a post by @brin_indonesia on Thursday (19/3/2026).