Indonesia Boosts Rice Output in Lamongan and Cirebon Amid El Nino Risk

Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono visited Lamongan, East Java, to accelerate a 750‑hectare rice planting initiative aimed at strengthening national rice stocks. The programme, part of the Gerakan Tanam (Gertam), includes distribution of seeds, tractors and water‑pumping equipment. Sudaryono highlighted Indonesia’s total rice reserves of about 28 million tonnes, sufficient for roughly 11 months, and warned that the approaching El Nino could peak in August. The ministry is also expanding irrigation infrastructure and has supplied nearly 100 000 water pumps nationwide to mitigate drought risks.

In West Java, the Cirebon Agriculture Office reported current rice production of 350‑360 thousand tonnes, maintaining a surplus of about 90 thousand tonnes. Although the surplus has fallen by 20 thousand tonnes compared with a decade ago due to shrinking farmland and population growth, officials said they will secure water distribution, provide additional pumps, and accelerate planting schedules to sustain output of roughly 300 thousand tonnes per year amid the dry season.