August 14, 2026 | 05:21 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto stated that Indonesia is capable of facing the El Nino, which is expected to coincide with the onset of the dry season in 2026. He noted that despite the concerning global situation, particularly the potential for widespread hunger due to food shortages and unpredictable weather, conditions in Indonesia remain stable.
"Alhamdulillah, I can report to this assembly that the food situation—food supplies for Indonesia, including our response to the El Nino challenge—is secure," said Prabowo during his address at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Joint Session of the MPR, House of Representatives (DPR), and House of Regions (DPD) on Friday, August 14, 2026.
He does not dispute experts' assessments that the current El Nino is the most severe on record. However, he noted that the government is preparing measures to anticipate its impact.
Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Affairs Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono previously stated that the government has prepared a series of measures to anticipate the impact of El Nino. This includes forming ground and air task forces, improving weather-modification operations, and creating water-resilience strategies to prevent drought, land and forest fires.
This measure was decided during a limited meeting led by Prabowo on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Agus explained that the optimization of weather modification operations, for instance, is being carried out not only to direct efforts toward extinguishing potential forest or land fires but also to maintain water availability in dams, reservoirs, and lakes throughout the dry season.
The government will carry out this weather modification operation using both conventional methods and new technologies. "Such as using drones to ensure greater effectiveness and efficiency," said Agus in a written statement on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
El Nino generally lasts for about 9 to 12 months. This climate phenomenon typically begins between March and June. However, it usually peaks between November and February.
Read: Is Indonesia Truly Food Self-Sufficient, as Prabowo Claims?
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