"This president's order must be taken seriously. We must ensure our rice stock and other staple goods to anticipate scarcity," Limpo stated after attending a limited meeting chaired by President Jokowi at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday.
Moreover, the president urged the ministry to map regional zones based on conditions and supporting factors for food production.
According to Limpo, the mapping is divided into three categories, with the first being the green area, with abundant water supply. However, he said this zone must be supported by optimizing planting and efforts to control food production.
Second, is the yellow zone that means an area with sufficient water supply.
"The water supply is mediocre, and we must carry out interventions, especially to control irrigation water, reservoirs, and others, and work with the regions," he explained.
The minister noted that the third -- the red zone -- is an area that needs follow-up planting of commodities with varieties that do not require a lot of water. This area should also be supported by a food barn, he noted.
Hence, his side is preparing several provinces to become the main buffers for food production when El Nino strikes, namely South Sumatra, North Sumatra, Lampung, South Sulawesi, South Kalimantan, and three provinces in Java, namely West Java, Central Java, and East Java.
"Each region will have its own tasks starting from their district head and mayor, governor, and up to the ministerial level," he revealed.
El Nino is a phenomenon of warming sea surface temperature (SML) above normal conditions that occurs in the central Pacific Ocean.
This SML warming increases the potential for cloud growth in the central Pacific Ocean and reduces rainfall in the Indonesian region. Hence, El Nino can trigger drought in the Indonesian region.
Related news: Ensuring food stocks for the nation
Related news: Prepare anticipatory measures to face hike in food prices: Minister
Related news: Government to provide low-interest financing to state food companies
Translator: Indra Arief P, Resinta S
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
