Jakarta, July 21 -- Indonesia's food security will withstand the El Nino weather phenomenon, Agriculture Minister and National Food Agency (Bapanas) Head Andi Amran Sulaiman said, citing strengthened reserves and early mitigation measures.

"This is under President Prabowo Subianto's direction. The previous El Nino was more severe than this one," Sulaiman said in a statement Tuesday.

The government has prepared for El Nino by securing strategic staple foods and strengthening reserves months before the weather phenomenon's expected impact.

The government rice reserve managed by state logistics agency Bulog stood at 5.24 million tons as of July 20, according to Bapanas.

Provincial governments held 7,350 tons of food reserves as of late J...