TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono is accelerating a rice planting campaign across 750 hectares in Lamongan Regency, East Java, to strengthen national rice production and anticipate the impact of El Nino.
"This initiative is an effort to strengthen national rice production and maintain the momentum of increasing planted area in one of Indonesia's main food barns," said the Deputy Minister in a statement in Jakarta on Monday, June 1, 2026.
Sudaryono, along with the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas), Rachmat Pambudy, directly observed the implementation of the Planting Movement in Kebalankulon Village, Sekaran District, Lamongan.
On that occasion, the group witnessed the planting of Inpari 32 rice varieties on 12 hectares of land, part of the 750-hectare planting program in the regency. They then participated in joint planting activities.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, familiarly known as Mas Dar, emphasized that increased food production can only be achieved through increasing the planted area. Therefore, the government continues to ensure that all farmers' needs are met, from irrigation water, seeds, fertilizers, to agricultural tools and machinery.
"The key to agriculture is simple: if you want a larger harvest, you must plant more. Therefore, the government is ensuring that all production needs are met so that farmers can increase their planted area and productivity," said the Deputy Minister.
According to him, Lamongan holds a crucial position in supporting the national food production target, as it is one of the regencies with the highest food productivity in East Java. Various agricultural indicators in the region also show positive trends, both in terms of productivity, harvested area, and production yields.
In addition to encouraging increased production, the Ministry of Agriculture is also strengthening anticipatory measures against the potential for El Nino, which is expected to peak in August.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture confirmed that the national food reserves are currently in a secure position to meet public needs.
According to Sudaryono, based on various projections, the impact of El Nino is expected to be strongest from July to September, with a peak in August. However, the government has prepared various mitigation measures to ensure agricultural production remains stable.
In addition to maintaining adequate food reserves, the Ministry of Agriculture continues to strengthen water infrastructure through revitalizing irrigation networks, constructing and repairing irrigation facilities, drilling for groundwater, and implementing pumping programs in various food production centers.
Since 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture has distributed nearly 100,000 water pumps to various regions in Indonesia as part of a strategy to maintain agricultural productivity amidst the threat of drought and climate change.
At the same event, Lamongan Regent Yuhronur Efendi stated that various government programs and assistance have had a positive impact on strengthening the agricultural sector in his region. One example is through easier access to fertilizer, which is now increasingly available to farmers.
"Thank God, fertilizer in Lamongan Regency is now safe, readily available, and affordable. This is an important factor in maintaining agricultural productivity in Lamongan," said Yuhronur.
According to him, the Lamongan Regency Government is also continuing to strengthen its preparedness for climate change by optimizing irrigation networks, utilizing pumping systems, and normalizing water channels to ensure water availability for agricultural land.
He emphasized that his administration will maximize existing irrigation channels, utilize pumping assistance through pumping and piped irrigation, and continue to repair and normalize the irrigation network.
"At the same time, we also continue to encourage the use of agricultural mechanization, from planting and maintenance to harvesting, to increase productivity," he said.
By accelerating planting, strengthening production facilities, modernizing agriculture, and taking climate change mitigation measures, the government is optimistic that the target of increasing national food production can be achieved while maintaining food availability for the community amidst various global and climate challenges.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, accompanied by the Head of Bappenas and the Regent of Lamongan, symbolically handed over agricultural stimulus assistance to representatives of local farmers to support increased productivity. The aid distributed includes rice seeds, corn seeds, hand tractors, and rotavators.
Read: Dry Season and El Nino Await, Why the Frequent Downpours?
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