Global Rice News

Indonesia Orders Military to Assist Farmers Amid Severe Drought

In an effort to combat the effects of a severe drought, Indonesia has enlisted the help of the military to assist farmers in planting rice. The country, Southeast Asia’s most populous, has experienced a reduction in rice output due to the drought, which has caused prices to rise and necessitated increased imports. The situation has also raised concerns about food security.

As planting has been delayed due to the dry conditions caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon, President Joko Widodo has called on military supervisory officers known as Babinsa to capitalize on recent rains and help farmers start planting rice. President Widodo expressed his desire to expedite the planting process after the delayed start due to El Nino.

Global rice supplies have been tight this year due to the El Nino, which has caused hotter and drier weather in Southeast Asia and led to reduced output in major producing and consuming countries. Prices in Asia’s main export hubs have increased by as much as 45% to reach their highest level in 15 years. India, the world’s top supplier of rice, has also restricted its exports.

The drought has caused Indonesia to delay planting for the 2024 harvest. This year, rice output dropped to 30.9 million metric tons from 31.53 million tons compared to the previous year. In response, a Babinsa officer attending an event with President Widodo mentioned that he had undergone a month-long training session on rice planting to assist farmers.

To address the manpower shortage faced by farmers, the Indonesian agriculture minister and the armed forces chief signed a cooperation agreement earlier this month. The agreement involves military personnel helping in farming and utilizing idle military land for planting. The farm ministry will provide the necessary seedlings and machinery.

The involvement of the armed forces in the past has helped Indonesia achieve food self-sufficiency, according to Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman. The renewed cooperation aims to reduce rice imports and further enhance food security. Indonesia has become one of the top rice importers, with state procurement company Bulog assigned to import 3.5 million tons this year.

As part of its efforts, Bulog has started purchasing rice through an international tender, with up to 534,000 tons expected to arrive by the end of January. The rice-planted area in Indonesia between September and November has declined by 53.61% compared to the previous year, according to data from the farm ministry. These crops traditionally produce the main harvests for the following year.

Despite the challenges, Indonesia is optimistic about increasing rice output to 32 million tons in 2024. The main harvest in March and April is projected to contribute 10.07 million tons, a 14% increase from this year.

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