Indonesia’s salt fields bloom under drought from El Nino’s baking heat
Indonesia's salt farmers in Cirebon are experiencing a significant production surge due to an El Nino-driven drought. While the dry weather benefits salt harvesting, authorities warn that the prolonged heat poses serious risks to other agricultural sectors.
Why it matters
The report highlights the dual-edged nature of climate change, where extreme weather patterns can create localized economic windfalls while simultaneously threatening national food security.
With dry conditions expected to persist through October, West Java’s Cirebon is likely to record a bumper salt harvest.
Listen Summarise El Nino has caused a prolonged dry season in Indonesia, boosting salt production but threatening crops with drought and heat. Salt farmers in West Java's Cirebon have seen production rise from 25-30 tons in 2025 to nearly 600 tons in July 2026. Authorities warn El Nino will last into 2027, urging crop farmers to adjust, while salt farmers hope for continued dry weather to maximise harvests. AI generated
CIREBON, Indonesia – Salt farmers in Indonesia’s West Java province are reaping the benefits of an El Nino-driven drought even as crop farmers brace themselves for a prolonged challenge from the baking heat.
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