Houses are seen in a densely populated neighbourhood in Jakarta on April 21, 2026. (Photo by BAY ISMOYO / AFP)
Jakarta: Indonesia has earmarked over 3 trillion Indonesian rupiahs (around 175 million U.S. dollars) to bolster the irrigation system ahead of a forecasted prolonged dry season, the country's Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said Tuesday.
Amran said the program targets 1.5 million hectares of farmland. It focuses on strengthening infrastructure, optimizing land use, and deploying water pumps.
Despite the climate outlook, Amran said that national food stocks remain sufficient for 11 months, well beyond the projected six-month duration of the El Nino phenomenon.
The minister stressed that the program's success hinges on coordination between central and regional governments to safeguard food security and protect farmers' livelihoods.
