Agriculture Minister Anticipates El Nino Threat
28 May 2015 15:20 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Manado - Trade Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said that he has anticipated El Nino threat that is predicted to hit large part of Indonesia and affect the agricultural sector.
"In order to prevent El Nino, I have formed a special team because Indonesia and Australia each predict weak and moderate El Nino, while the United States predicts strong El Nino," said Andi on Thursday, May 28, 2015.
Andi said Indonesia's prediction is always accurate, but it still has to be anticipated.
Andi continued that El Nino usually dried 200,000 hectares of land in Indonesia. The Agriculture Ministry has studied El Nino symptoms for five to ten years, so precautions measures have also been planned.
"I have gathered all competent agricultural experts to deal with El Nino. We must not take this lightly," said Andi.
Andi added that early anticipation can hopefully reduce the effect of this year's dry season on national rice production.
ANTARANEWS