Minister: Infrastructure Strengthened to Mitigate 'Godzilla' El Niño

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that the government is strengthening agricultural infrastructure as a mitigation effort against the potential impact of the El Niño Godzilla phenomenon on national food production. "So the impact of El Niño Godzilla, as conveyed by the BMKG, God willing, we can mitigate the risks," Amran said in a press statement after a limited meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Thursday. He explained that these efforts include the construction of reservoirs, pump irrigation, deep wells, pump optimisation, land improvement, and the new rice field printing programme. Amran elaborated that land optimisation is primarily carried out on swamp land, which previously could only be harvested once a year, to now allow for two to three harvests. Additionally, the government is continuing the rice field printing programme to expand planting areas and maintain national food production. On that occasion, Amran also reported the national food condition to the President. Current rice stock is approximately 5.2 million tonnes, while the potential production from standing crops is estimated at around 10 to 11 million tonnes. Furthermore, rice availability in households, hotels, and restaurants is estimated to be around 12.5 million tonnes. Based on these calculations, Amran stated that national food reserves are estimated to be sufficient to meet the community’s needs for approximately the next 10 to 11 months. "So he provided direction, gave instructions, to follow up and be vigilant about the Godzilla El Niño," Amran said. Previously, Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Suwandi emphasised that the food sector is a crucial foundation for national resilience and sovereignty. He stated that the government continues to undertake various efforts to ensure food production remains optimal amidst climate challenges. "Food is not just a basic need, but a strategic necessity for the nation. Safeguarding food means safeguarding the sovereignty and future of the country," Suwandi said. He added that, in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s directives, the agricultural sector is a key part of the national development agenda for the next five years, particularly to support food self-sufficiency, the Free Nutritious Meals programme, biofuel development, and agricultural downstreaming. According to him, Indonesia is entering this year’s dry season with much better preparedness compared to previous periods. Various production strengthening programmes have been implemented, ranging from land optimisation, new rice field development, construction and development of pump irrigation, provision of superior seeds, to strengthening coordination between central and regional governments. He also stressed that this year’s climate conditions cannot be equated with the strong El Niño phenomena that occurred in 2015 or 2023. Based on climate data monitoring from BMKG and NOAA satellites, this year’s dry season is expected to be more manageable. "Therefore, what needs to be done is to increase vigilance and preparedness, not to cause excessive worry," he said.