Food Stocks Secure, Indonesia Prepared to Face 'Godzilla' El Nino
The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) has assured that Indonesia is ready to face the potential impacts of El Nino, supported by food stocks at the highest level in history.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman acknowledged that the effects of extreme hot weather are already being felt and could potentially affect agricultural production. However, the government has experience in handling similar conditions in previous years.
“That Godzilla El Nino is said to bring six months of drought. But it seems the previous El Nino in 2015 was even more severe. We already have experience managing El Nino with our colleagues in 2015, 2023, and 2024,” Amran said after inspecting a Bulog warehouse in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Sunday (5/4).
He emphasised that national food security is currently in a very strong position. The government’s stored rice stocks have reached the highest figure in Indonesia’s history, touching 4.5 million tonnes at the beginning of April 2026.
“Now our stocks are the highest since independence. 4.5 million. Insya Allah, in the next 10 days or 20 days, it will be 5 million,” he asserted.
In addition to stocks in government warehouses, Amran also revealed the availability of food distributed in other sectors and ongoing production potential.
“The second is what’s in Horeka (hotels, restaurants, cafes/catering) according to our data, that’s 12.5 million tonnes. Then the standing crop that’s currently planted and ready for harvest, that’s 11 million tonnes. So already 23 million tonnes,” he explained.
With this total availability, he estimated that national food needs can be met for a long period, even exceeding the peak drought period.
“That means for the next 11 months, it’s safe. Stocks for the Indonesian people are safe for the next 11 months. Whereas the drought is six months. So it’s safe, right?” he said.
Amran also emphasised that various strategic steps have been taken to strengthen the production system, from increasing pump irrigation to optimising swamp lands.
“I’ve added pump irrigation. Yes, hopefully 40 thousand. So it gets stronger. So no need to worry about El Nino because our defences are strong. Because we already have pump irrigation, irrigation, then the swamp lands that we planted before, we repair the irrigation, plant once, become twice, three times,” he explained.
He urged the public not to worry about the current extreme weather conditions, as the government has prepared measured mitigation steps.
Amran stressed that this achievement is the result of collaboration from all parties in carrying out President Prabowo Subianto’s directives in facing potential global crises.
“Our rice is abundant. Let’s be grateful, this is the fruit of the great idea of Mr President. He created a great idea, we collaborate below, work together, so we enjoy the results today, at a time when geopolitics is heating up, Alhamdulillah we are calm, food prices are good, even abundant, we’re grateful,” he concluded.