Indonesia deploys water pumps to combat El Nino drought

Indonesian regional governments are deploying water pump units to mitigate the impact of El Nino-induced droughts on agricultural productivity.

In Central Maluku, the Ministry of Agriculture has distributed 59 water pump units to farmers in the Seram Utara region between 2024 and 2025. While these units aim to support rice and horticultural production, local officials have expressed concern that the effectiveness of the pumps may be limited if primary water sources dry up completely due to meteorological drought conditions.

In South Sulawesi, Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaimandi announced the preparation of 300 water pump units to irrigate farmland facing water shortages. The provincial government is prioritizing rice fields to maintain national food self-sufficiency. In addition to pump distribution, authorities are planning the construction of boreholes in affected areas, following geoelectric surveys to ensure water availability.