Indonesia Deploys Military to Aid Rice Planting Amid El Niño Drought

President Joko Widodo's move comes as the country grapples with reduced rice output, rising prices, and food security concerns.

Indonesia's president, Joko Widodo, has ordered the military to assist farmers in planting rice due to a severe drought caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon.
The drought has reduced rice output, leading to higher prices, increased imports, and concerns about food security in Southeast Asia's most populous country.
Global rice prices have risen by as much as 45% due to El Niño and a recent ban on non-Basmati white rice exports by India, the world's top supplier.
The Indonesian military's involvement in farming is not unprecedented; in the past, it has helped the country achieve food self-sufficiency.
Despite the current challenges, Indonesia expects rice output to increase to 32 million tons in 2024.