OPINION   ─────────────────────

Spatiotemporal Patterns of Meteorological Drought in the National Food Barn Region

Nastiti Andini, M.Si
Climatological Station of Maluku, Indonesia Agency for Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics, Jakarta, Indonesia
“Climate knowledge for a more resilient and food-secure Indonesia.”

A Case Study of South Sulawesi Province

Drought has become one of the most significant challenges to agricultural productivity and food security, particularly in regions that serve as Indonesia’s food barns. South Sulawesi, a major producer of rice, maize, and other food crops, is highly vulnerable to drought due to its climatic variability and dependence on rain-fed agriculture. Understanding how drought occurs, varies across space, and evolves over time is essential for strengthening climate resilience in this strategic region.

Our recent study analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns of meteorological drought in South Sulawesi (1981–2020) based on the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), applying a combination of rotated Principal Component Analysis (PCA), run theory, and trend analysis to uncover spatial patterns, event characteristics, and long-term trends. The result reveal three distinct drought regions with different characteristics, providing important insights for region-spesific drought risk management and food security strategies.

These findings emphasize that drought management should consider regional differences and be integrated with adaptive agricultural planning, early warning systems, and supportive policies to ensure food security in the face of a changing climate.

Key Lessons

Our study highlights several important lessons. First, drought characteristics vary significantly across regions—northern South Sulawesi experiences more frequent and intense droughts, while the western region faces longer durations and larger magnitudes. Second, a significant drying trend was detected in the southern part of the central-eastern region, indicating increasing vulnerability. These findings suggest that drought risk management must be tailored to regional conditions and should involve integrated efforts across government, research institutions, and local communities.

Looking Ahead

Strengthening drought resilience requires collective action. Future research should integrate meteorological drought with agricultural and hydrological drought assessments, and explore the direct impacts on crop productivity and farmers’ livelihoods. By combining science, policy, and community engagement, we can build a more resilient agricultural sector and ensure sustainable food security for Indonesia.

Reference

Andini, N., Santikayasa, I. P., & Setiawan, A. M. (2025). Spatiotemporal Patterns of Meteorological Drought in the National Food Barn Region: A Case Study of South Sulawesi Province. Agromet, 39(2), 120–130.