Minister Amran Makes Surprise Visit to Karawang, Wades into Rice Fields to Inspect Drought Response

Agriculture Minister and Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Amran Sulaiman went directly into rice fields to inspect the handling of drought affecting several regions, including Karawang, West Java.

Amran carried out an unannounced inspection to ensure that pumps sent by the government had actually been installed and were being used by farmers. He said the government did not want drought management to be monitored only from Jakarta. For that reason, he checked field conditions directly, including making sure that drought-affected land had received pump assistance.

“This visit is what we call an unannounced inspection. Seeing directly whether the pumps have really been installed, whether the drought-affected areas have really been fitted with pumps, and it turns out they have. So thank you to the Director General of Water Resources at the Ministry of Public Works. We check directly, not just from Jakarta,” Amran said when met in Kutawaluya District, Karawang, West Java, on Monday (31/8/2026).

Amran said the impact of the current drought had been mapped at around 30,000 hectares of paddy fields, out of a total planted area of about 11 million hectares. The condition is occurring in a number of regions, both on Java and outside Java.

“The latest report we received shows 30,000 hectares affected by drought out of a total planted area of 11 million hectares. That is safe, isn’t it? The affected areas are almost all over Indonesia, on Java and outside Java,” he said.

He said the government continues to send pumps to areas experiencing drought as well as to areas that previously could not plant because of limited water.

“We send pumps because of drought, and also because planting was not possible. Like now there is water, look, the water is abundant. But here they could not plant. Well, today we can plant, and the neighbouring area has already been planted,” he explained.

To strengthen drought management, Amran said the government had prepared tens of thousands of pumps. In addition to pumps, assistance with agricultural machinery and equipment also includes harvesting tools and tractors.

“There are pumps, harvesting equipment, tractors, TR2, TR4, all complete,” Amran said.

He added that the government had previously installed around 100,000 pumps. According to him, the programme had increased paddy production on Java alone by around 2.8 million tonnes.

“Previously we installed around 100,000 pumps, and the result was an increase for Java alone of more than 2 million tonnes, almost 3 million tonnes, 2.8 million tonnes. Almost 3 million tonnes of paddy,” he said.

Specifically at the location Amran visited, there are around 3,000 hectares of land with the potential to have productivity increased through pump irrigation.

Amran calculated that if the land produced around 7 tonnes of paddy per hectare, assuming a price of Rp6,500 per kg, the additional farmer income could reach around Rp136 billion.

“Here alone there are 3,000 hectares, more or less 3,000 hectares. If 3,000 hectares produce 7 tonnes, there is an additional Rp136 billion in income, assuming a paddy price of Rp6,500 per kg,” he said.

He is also optimistic that rice productivity in Karawang can be increased. Current production is said to be around 7 tonnes per hectare, while with the new method prepared by the government, production is being pushed to reach 11-12 tonnes per hectare.

“Seven tonnes. This can rise to 12 tonnes, 11 tonnes with the new method. We will work on it,” Amran said.

According to him, the drought conditions in Karawang will not significantly disrupt production.

“There is an impact, but it will not affect production significantly,” he said.

He also stressed that the government will continue to go into the field to ensure the drought management programme is running.

“This is what the people need, real action. We should not be busy debating, holding meetings, and so on. Let us look directly at the field. This is being planted during the dry season,” Amran asserted.