Jakarta, May 26 -- Indonesia's Agriculture Ministry said national rice production is expected to remain stable despite the risk of El Nino-triggered drought later this year, supported by irrigation measures and strong food reserves.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono said the government began preparing early this year after receiving climate warnings from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, known as BMKG.

"Currently, we are focused on ensuring production does not decline," Sudaryono said at the National Conference on Regional Economic Development in Jakarta on Monday.

The government's preventive measures include water pumping, pipeline installations and drilled wells to keep farmland productive during the dry season....