Jakarta. Indonesia has stockpiled a record 5.3 million metric tons of rice and is rolling out measures to protect food production as the country prepares for the peak of a drought expected in August, the Agriculture Ministry said on Wednesday.

The reserve is enough to meet domestic consumption for about two to two-and-a-half months, based on average national rice demand of 2.59 million tons per month.

Agriculture Ministry Secretary-General Suwandi said authorities are stepping up preparations to mitigate the impact of a potential El Niño-driven dry season.

"The Agriculture Ministry continues to coordinate with governors and regents across the country to implement anticipatory measures on the ground," Suwandi said at a briefing in Jakarta.

Regional governments have been instructed to improve drought monitoring, repair irrigation canals during the dry season, and identify reservoirs and water storage facilities that can support farming activities when rainfall declines.

The government is also accelerating irrigation improvements and expanding access to alternative water sources, including farm ponds, shallow wells, and pumping systems.

Suwandi said the ministry is distributing additional water pumps capable of irrigating up to 1 million hectares of farmland. The equipment is scheduled for installation in June and July to ensure readiness before drought conditions intensify.

The new pumps will complement infrastructure introduced last year that already supports around 2 million hectares of agricultural land. Additional pumping systems and irrigation channels are also being developed to broaden coverage.

Authorities are encouraging farmers in suitable areas to plant earlier and use crop varieties that are more resilient to dry conditions. They are also promoting climate-adaptive practices, including adjustments to planting schedules and a shift toward less water-intensive crops in drought-prone regions.

To limit production losses, the ministry is expanding agricultural insurance coverage and providing seed assistance. Under the Agricultural Business Insurance Program, insured farmers can receive compensation of up to Rp 6 million ($338) per hectare for crop failures caused by drought or other disasters.

The ministry is also seeking support from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, or BMKG, for weather modification operations in areas vulnerable to water shortages.

Suwandi said preparations are focused on the critical July-to-September period, with rainfall expected to begin returning in October.

Researchers at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) have previously described as a potential "Godzilla El Niño," a particularly strong climate event that could bring prolonged dry conditions across key agricultural regions.

The impact is expected to vary across the archipelago. Southern regions, including Java and East Nusa Tenggara, are forecast to experience below-normal rainfall, raising the risk of water shortages for farming. In contrast, parts of eastern Indonesia, such as Sulawesi, Halmahera, and Maluku, may continue to see heavy rainfall.

To mitigate the impact on crop production, the Agriculture Ministry has earmarked Rp 12 trillion for drought-response measures. Of that amount, Rp 9.95 trillion will be used to procure plantation crop seeds, including cocoa, coconut, sugarcane, and cashew, for distribution across 870,000 hectares. Another Rp 3 trillion has been allocated for water pipeline infrastructure in agricultural areas vulnerable to extreme drought.You could then transition directly into your closing.

Add as a preferred source on Google +