Drought tightens grip across Indonesia
Weeks without rain threatens drinking water availability for thousands of households
Risk of crop failure
The agency called for immediate mitigation measures to reduce the risk of crop failures due to limited water supplies.
"Several measures need to be implemented immediately, including adjusting planting schedules, optimizing the use of crop varieties that are drought tolerant and early-maturing, and diversifying food crops," BMKG Deputy Head for Climatology Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan said.
Experts have previously warned that a prolonged drought could threaten national food security and drive rice prices to record highs unless water supply and infrastructure are secured.
Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said the ministry had anticipated the impact of the worsening drought conditions.
"We have accelerated a number of mitigation measures, including expanding the use of irrigation pumps to ensure water remains available and food production stays on track," he said.
The government has also sought to reassure the public over food supply, with Amran repeatedly saying national rice reserves are at a "historically high level" and sufficient to meet demand until next year.
Agriculture Ministry Secretary-General Suwandi said authorities are coordinating with the regional governments to implement early-warning systems and drought mitigation measures, including irrigation network repairs, water resource mapping, pump deployment, and weather modification operations.
The government plans to install pumps capable of irrigating an additional 1 million hectares of farmland by the end of July, bringing the total irrigated coverage to around 3 million hectares nationwide, while encouraging farmers to use drought-tolerant crop varieties, adjust planting schedules and join agricultural insurance programs.
Indonesia has also built up rice reserves, with stocks held by the state logistics agency reaching a record 5.3 million tons.
