JAKARTA (Reuters): Most of Indonesia is predicted to have a normal wet season next year, making it suitable to grow crops, the country's weather agency BMKG said on Monday.
Last year's dry season was the most severe since 2019 due to an El Nino weather phenomenon, bringing a prolonged drought that hurt crops and exacerbated forest fires.
A dry weather pattern in 2023 caused delays in planting this year, affecting production in the early months. Indonesia's rice output was seen down 2.43% this year compared to last year.
"Rain in 2025 in the majority of Indonesia...will be normal to above normal, suitable to support producing food in food centres," said BMKG chief Dwikorita Karnawati in a press conference.
Dwikorita said a weak La Nina weather pattern, which typically brings in more rainfall, will occur between November 2024 and March next year.
She added some areas in Indonesia are still prone to floods and landslides due to higher precipitation.
During the dry season from July to September 2025, there are still risks of drought and forest fires despite the normal rain prediction, she said.
Over 1.16 million hectares (2.86 million acres), including forests, burned last year, the most since 2019 and more than five times the 204,894 hectares that burned in 2022, according to data on the environment ministry's website.
(Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Sharon Singleton) - Reuters
