Global Rice News

Indonesia Orders Military to Help Farmers Plant Rice Amid Severe Drought

In response to a severe drought that has reduced rice output in Indonesia, the country’s military has been ordered to assist farmers with planting crops. This move comes as the drought has lifted rice prices, necessitated increased imports, and posed a threat to food security in Southeast Asia’s most populous nation.

Due to the dryness caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon, planting has been delayed, prompting President Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, to request military supervisory officers in villages, called Babinsa, to take advantage of recent rainfall and help with planting. During a visit to the Pekalongan regency in central Java, President Widodo emphasized the urgency of the situation and encouraged farmers to begin planting rice immediately.

The El Nino, which typically brings hotter and drier weather to Southeast Asia, has contributed to a tightening of global rice supplies this year. This has resulted in reduced output in major rice-producing and consuming countries. As a result, prices in Asia’s key rice export hubs have surged by up to 45%, reaching their highest point in 15 years. India, the world’s top supplier of rice, has also restricted exports, exacerbating the situation.

In Indonesia, drought has caused delays in planting for the 2024 harvest. This year, the country’s rice output dropped to 30.9 million metric tons from 31.53 million tons the previous year. As a response to the crisis, the agriculture minister and the armed forces chief signed a cooperation agreement earlier this month. The agreement includes military personnel assisting with farming and utilizing idle military land for planting. The farm ministry will provide seedlings and machinery.

The involvement of the armed forces in farming has proved beneficial in the past, helping Indonesia achieve food self-sufficiency. By providing tools and personnel, the armed forces can assist farmers who may face a shortage of manpower, especially as younger generations prefer working in factories. Under the cooperation agreement, one Babinsa officer will be assigned to each village. They will assess the manpower needs for planting, and nearby military units will be deployed accordingly.

Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman stated that this renewed cooperation with the armed forces could help reduce rice imports and contribute to achieving food self-sufficiency once again. Indonesia has become one of the top rice importers, with state procurement company, Bulog, assigned to import 3.5 million tons this year.

To address the immediate needs for rice in the country, Bulog has already initiated an international tender to acquire up to 534,000 tons of rice, expected to arrive by the end of January. Despite the challenges posed by the drought, Indonesia is hopeful that rice output will increase to 32 million tons by 2024. The main harvests for the next year are expected to contribute 10.07 million tons, a 14% increase from this year’s output.

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