Indonesian Farmers Rush to Plant Rice Before Dry Weather Hits

Indonesian farmers are changing when they plant rice to avoid damage from a weather event called El Nino. The government is asking farmers to plant earlier than usual because El Nino could bring very dry weather later this year. This dry weather could hurt rice crops that millions of people in Indonesia depend on for food. Farmers like Teguh Basuki are already starting to plant rice faster in West Java province.

Teguh Basuki works on rice farms near the city of Cirebon in West Java. The 51-year-old farmer supports his family of seven people with money from growing rice. He usually follows the same planting schedule every year, but now he's planting earlier. "Farming is about adapting and finding solutions - hopefully it works out," Teguh said while working in his green and gold rice fields.

El Nino is a weather pattern that happens every few years. It brings hot, dry weather to Asia and too much rain to the Americas. Scientists think this year's El Nino could be one of the strongest ever recorded. Climate change is making El Nino weather events cause more damage to crops than before.

Indonesia normally has a dry season from May to August each year. But weather experts predict that in 2026, the dry season will last longer than usual. Many parts of Java island, where most Indonesians live, haven't had rain for more than 10 days. Weather forecasters expect only small amounts of rain in June.

Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman is telling local government leaders to help farmers. He wants them to make sure irrigation systems work well and help farmers plant rice quickly in areas that still have water. The government also wants farmers to use special rice seeds that can survive without much water.

The agriculture ministry has new rules for farmers. They want farmers to replant rice just two weeks after harvest instead of waiting 25 days like they usually do. This faster schedule will help farmers grow more rice before the dry weather arrives. Government official Muhammad Agung Sunusi asked mayors and governors to help improve irrigation systems for rice farms.

Not all farmers are following the same plan. Misti is a 62-year-old farmer who also works near Cirebon. He decided not to plant rice for his third harvest of the year because the weather is too hot. Instead, he might plant mung beans, which are small green legumes that need less water.