Antara News·Indonesia·Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 11:24 AM UTC

Ministry steps up efforts expanding planted areas through March 2027

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Aria Ananda, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Agriculture Muhammad Saleh Mustafa said the ministry is preparing to expand planted areas between November 2026 and March 2027, with particular attention to climate conditions in Lampung and South Sumatra.

This measure is a directive from Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman to maintain the continuity of food production by adjusting planting activities to water availability and seasonal changes.

"We have received direction from Minister Sulaiman to implement the strategy of increasing planted area," Mustafa noted on Saturday.

He named Lampung and South Sumatra as two regions that will receive attention in implementing the accelerated planting area.

He noted that efforts to expand planted areas must take natural conditions into account, particularly climate change that affects water availability for farming.

The Ministry of Agriculture will therefore adjust planting schedules to seasonal conditions from November 2026 to March 2027, while involving agricultural groups in the field.

Mustafa added that the government is also ensuring irrigation facilities are ready to protect agricultural land from potential disruptions during the rainy season.

"We will implement pump interventions to anticipate flooded rice fields," he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture previously set a national rice planting area target for 2026 of 16.86 million hectares, as stipulated in Minister of Agriculture Decree No. 229 of 2026.

Meanwhile, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) on October 27 reported that the Niño 3.4 index for the August–October 2026 period reached positive 3.05 degrees Celsius, indicating a very strong El Niño phenomenon.

The BMKG also reported 1,707 observation points with exceptionally prolonged drought, highlighting the need to adjust planting schedules and manage water resources to prevent disruptions to food production.

In its 2026/2027 rainy season forecast, the BMKG also predicted a delayed onset of the rainy season in 529 seasonal zones, covering 61.08 percent of Indonesia's territory, compared to normal conditions.

Regarding the additional planted area, the Lampung Agricultural Modernization and Development Agency (BRMP) recorded that the actual rice planting area in Lampung reached 439,660 hectares between January and July 2026, or 78.59 percent of the target of 559,403 hectares.

To accelerate planting, the Lampung BRMP in October strengthened coordination to achieve the target of 2,500 hectares of additional planted area in Metro City, with support for water distribution arrangements for 2,930 hectares of land.

On October 29, the Lampung BRMP also reported its support for the modern agriculture program in Metro City through the Modern Advanced Agriculture System (PM-AAS), which targets 341 hectares of land.

In South Sumatra, the BRMP reported that farmers in North Musi Rawas District planted only 15 hectares in September 2026, falling short of the 342-hectare target due to prolonged drought.

As the month progressed, farmers resumed seed preparation and land cultivation with assistance from agricultural extension workers to align planting activities with available water supplies.

In Ogan Komering Ulu District, South Sumatra, the BRMP reported in early October that planting had covered 205 hectares of the 228 hectares receiving regular seed assistance. Meanwhile, land optimization had reached 122 of the targeted 140 hectares.

The BRMP South Sumatra also reported that the construction of a pumped irrigation system for a local farmers' group was around 80 percent complete, helping improve water availability and increase the cropping index.

By expanding planting areas, adapting to climate conditions, and ensuring irrigation facilities are ready, the Ministry of Agriculture aims to sustain rice production and minimize crop disruptions in the following season.

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