FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 04/02 - INDONESIA (3 April)
Torrential rainfall from late January to mid February 2002 caused widespread flooding and landslides, with the islands of Java and Sumatra most seriously affected and the capital Jakarta in particular. Thousands of homes were destroyed, and almost 200 deaths related to the flooding have been reported. National and international relief organizations provide assistance with health and feeding programmes.
The floods only marginally affected the outcome of the 2001/02 main season rice crop, which is now being harvested. An assessment by the Ministry of Agriculture suggests that of a total area planted to paddy of 11.4 million hectares, the floods affected only 204 000 hectares, of which 10 000 hectares were totally lost. Thus, the national paddy production in 2001 is estimated at 49.6 million tonnes (31.2 million tonnes milled rice), against 51.9 million tonnes the previous year. The 2002 dry season paddy crop will be planted from May, while the main season crop is planted in October/November. A tentative forecast of paddy production in 2002 is 49 million tonnes.
In the main maize growing areas of East Java and Sumatra, the harvest started in January 2002 and is now complete. The heavy rains in January/February caused wet conditions during harvesting time, which affected the quality rather than the quantity of the maize crop. The 2002 national maize production is provisionally estimated at 11.1 million tonnes, about 21 percent above last year. The country produces no wheat.
Reflecting the lower paddy production, rice imports in the 2002/03 marketing year (April/March) are expected to increase. So far, 3 million tonnes of rice imports are planned, of which one million tonnes will be handled by the National Logistics Planning Agency, BULOG, and the remainder by private traders. Imports of wheat and maize will also be needed.