Indonesia says no rice imports planned for 2026 amid El Nino threat
Indonesia does not expect to import rice in 2026 despite potential El Niño-related production risks, with January–September rice output projected at 28.71 million tonnes, marginally above last year. The government is preparing through 80,158 water pumps, upgraded irrigation, drought-tolerant varieties and adjusted crop calendars to safeguard production and strengthen rice self-sufficiency.
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia does not expect to import rice in 2026 despite potential output risks from the El Niño weather phenomenon, an Agriculture Ministry official said on Monday.
National rice production remains on a positive trajectory, with output from January to September projected at 28.71 million tons, Agriculture Minister Expert Adviser for Agricultural Production Development Hasil Sembiring said during a news briefing in Jakarta on Monday.
“So, we already have the numbers. In my opinion, I do not think we are going to import, because the figure that I know is still higher compared with 2025,” Sembiring said.
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) said earlier this month that rice production in the January–September period is expected to reach 28.71 million tons, up 0.01 percent from the same period last year.
State logistics agency Bulog held 5.18 million tons of rice stocks as of July 2, according to government data.
Indonesia has been preparing for dry conditions associated with El Niño by deploying more than 80,158 water pumps to farmer groups, Sembiring said.
The pumps are intended to help farmers draw water from available sources, including creeks and river tributaries in drought-affected areas.
“So this is really good preparation because the pumps can be used to pump water wherever water is available. Of course, we cannot pump if there is no water, but there is still water in some creeks, and in some areas we can still pump it,” he said.
The Agriculture Ministry has also been upgrading irrigation networks to reduce water loss and ensure available supplies are used efficiently, he added.
For rice farmers, the government is promoting drought-tolerant varieties and shorter-duration crops. Some varieties can be harvested in about 97 to 98 days, compared with conventional varieties that take up to 120 days, Sembiring said.
The government is also using a Crop Calendar to help farmers adjust planting schedules based on weather patterns.
“We also have what we call a Crop Calendar, for example. We receive updates from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency. We have been preparing for its renewal over the past few months. So, actually, the Ministry of Agriculture is already prepared for it,” he said.
President Prabowo Subianto has made strengthening food security and reducing reliance on imports a top government priority. In early 2025, he called for an end to rice imports and urged agencies to absorb farmers’ harvests to bolster domestic stocks.
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Source : Antara News
