Facing 'El Nino', the Government Ensures Controlled Safe Rice Stocks

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Amid the global dynamics marked by various challenges, including the potential food crisis, Indonesia is showing increasingly strong readiness. National food security continues to be expanded as part of President Prabowo Subianto's grand vision to achieve food self-sufficiency.

The Head of the National Food Agency, who is also the Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, stated that the world is currently facing three major pressures: food, energy, and water crises. However, Indonesia is considered to be in a more prepared position, especially in facing the potential impacts of El Nino.

"Currently, the global condition, the world's condition, there are three crises facing the world. The food crisis, the energy crisis, and the water crisis. These three need to be addressed as soon as possible," Amran stated in Surabaya on Sunday, 19 April 2026.

In the context of food, the government has recorded significant achievements in the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) stock. The stock managed by Perum Bulog has now reached 4.9 million tons and is projected to soon exceed 5 million tons in the near future.

"(Regarding) food, thank God under the leadership of President Prabowo, today our rice reserve stock is the highest in the history of the Republic of Indonesia." 4.9 million tons and God willing, by Thursday it will be 5 million tons," he said.

The robustness of the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) stock managed by Perum Bulog was also mentioned by Amran as a preparation for the possibility of El Nino. Indonesia has experience dealing with El Nino, so there is nothing to worry about.

"We have already calculated El Nino." El Nino now has a Godzilla, it (possibly) lasts 6 months. We have experience, we have faced El Niño twice. (In the years) 2015, 2023, 2024. (Now) we are prepared earlier. So, God willing, it will be safe," Andi Amran Sulaiman conveyed.

According to Bapanas records, the current CBP stock, which has reached 4.9 million tons, has experienced an exponential increase of up to 221.7 percent compared to the preparations for the previous El Nino peak. According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the peak of El Niño in 2023 will occur from October to December.