Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is expanding irrigation infrastructure and water conservation projects to protect rice production from potential El Nino-induced drought and support the government's target of increasing output by 1 million metric tons in 2026.
The Ministry of Agriculture is seeking to maintain production gains recorded in 2025 through land intensification and expansion programs, Secretary of the Directorate General of Agricultural Land and Irrigation Dhani Gartina said on Thursday.
With El Nino and prolonged dry conditions expected to affect several farming regions, ensuring adequate water supplies has become a key part of the government's food security strategy.
Through the Directorate General of Agricultural Land and Irrigation, the ministry is strengthening water resource development programs in collaboration with the Directorate General of Water Resources at the Ministry of Public Works, Dhani said.
The initiatives include rehabilitation of tertiary irrigation networks, the construction of pumping and pipeline irrigation systems, water reservoirs, check dams, and the development of alternative water sources.
The projects are designed to increase cropping intensity, particularly in rain-fed rice fields that are usually planted only once a year.
Improved irrigation infrastructure is expected to provide a more reliable water supply, enabling farmers to increase planting frequency and improve productivity.
"We hope fields that are planted once a year can be cultivated twice, while those planted twice can be expanded to three planting cycles," Dhani said.
For 2026, the government plans to build about 15 thousand pumping irrigation units, 3 thousand pipeline irrigation units, and 3 thousand water conservation structures, targeting key rice-producing and drought-prone areas.
The ministry has also mapped groundwater basins, surface water resources, irrigated farmland, and drought-vulnerable areas to ensure assistance is directed to areas most in need.
According to Dhani, the government's drought response combines anticipation, adaptation, and mitigation measures.
Preventive efforts include strengthening planting season planning, ensuring availability of agricultural inputs, and expanding water infrastructure.
Adaptation measures focus on water-efficient cropping systems, drought-resistant rice varieties, and more efficient land management practices.
Mitigation efforts include agricultural insurance programs, production risk management, and government support through water pumps and irrigation facilities.
To strengthen dry-season preparedness, the ministry is also identifying irrigation rehabilitation needs and assessing potential alternative water sources, including reservoirs, rivers, springs, and groundwater.
Separately, state fertilizer producer PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) said it remained committed to supporting Indonesia's food self-sufficiency drive by ensuring adequate supplies of subsidized fertilizer.
PT Pupuk Indonesia Vice President of Stakeholder Management Susatyo Jati said the company was ready to meet the government's 2026 subsidized fertilizer allocation.
The allocation totals 9.5 million metric tons, comprising 4.45 million tons of urea, 4.5 million tons of NPK fertilizer, 500 thousand tons of ZA fertilizer, and organic fertilizer.
Susatyo said the company continues to maintain production capacity and plant reliability to ensure timely deliveries to farmers.
PT Pupuk Indonesia has annual production capacity of 8.8 million tons of urea, 4.6 million tons of NPK fertilizer, and about 1.5 million tons of other fertilizer products.
As of May 31, subsidized fertilizer distribution had reached around 4 million tons, equivalent to 45.17 percent of contracted volumes and about 41 percent of the government's allocation.
The company said distribution in 2026 could surpass last year's performance.
To prepare for possible El Nino impacts, PT Pupuk Indonesia has also increased fertilizer stocks across the country.
As of June 8, total fertilizer stocks stood at 1.17 million tons, comprising 836 thousand tons of subsidized fertilizer and 338 thousand tons of non-subsidized products.
The inventory is estimated to cover about 23 days of demand based on average daily fertilizer redemption of roughly 37 thousand tons, while ongoing production is expected to keep supplies stable.
"We have prepared fertilizer stocks in the field to help farmers face El Nino conditions," Susatyo said.
Related news: Indonesia completes 82.7 pct of irrigation upgrade program: Minister
Translator: Subagyo, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak Editor: Bayu Prasetyo Copyright © ANTARA 2026
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