Gov’t Ensures National Rice Supply Ahead of El Nino
The Government has ensured national rice supply until September ahead of El Nino.
“As of September, we still have an overstock rice of over 2.7 million [tons], meaning that every month there are still 800,000 hectares of harvest areas producing enough for our monthly needs of over 2 million,” the Minister said Wednesday (08/02) at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, after attending a limited cabinet meeting presided over by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
The Minister said the President had also ordered his Cabinet to prepare and ensure supply of national rice to anticipate the El Nino climate phenomenon that can lead to drought and a drop in agricultural productivity.
“We will prepare approximately 500,000 hectares in anticipation of El Nino. Even though it is reported that we will experience drought and others, I have checked some of our large reservoirs and dams and turns out that the water is sufficient,” Syahrul said.
The Minister also expressed hope that local governments would also brace for the El Nino, adding that a number of regions have expressed their readiness to prepare fields to ensure the availability of national rice supply.
“There are six regions, including North Sumatra, South Sumatra, three provinces in Java, plus South Sulawesi, so there are six in total. There are also supporting regions such South Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara, Banten, and Lampung. I am confident that if we can move 500,000 hectares, the potential impacts of El Nino can be well mitigated,” Syahrul remarked. (TGH/UN) (AY/MEP)