Indonesia Pushes for New Rice Field Expansion to Achieve Food Self-Sufficiency
By: Alexander Royce
In recent years, the issue of food security has been at the top of the national agenda. The current government has firmly embraced one of its main strategies: expanding agricultural land, particularly new rice fields, to increase domestic food production and reduce dependence on imports. Various strategic policies have been implemented, ranging from the creation of smallholder rice fields to a comprehensive agricultural transformation. These efforts have received a positive response from various parties, including the legislature, local governments, and farmers themselves.
The Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, stated that the agricultural transformation driven by the Ministry of Agriculture is not merely a rhetorical program but has already demonstrated real impact. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that farmer welfare has improved, one indicator being the increase in the Farmer’s Exchange Rate (TRF). The government’s rice reserve stock managed by Bulog is currently reported to have reached 4.2 million tons, a record high in the last 57 years. The government also continues to strengthen land optimization programs, pumping, and the provision of production facilities to ensure that the acquired land can be productive as quickly as possible. This situation fosters confidence that Indonesia is moving closer to food self-sufficiency.
Support for this policy also came from the Deputy Speaker of the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI), Tamsil Linrung. He considered Minister Amran’s measures a major breakthrough in the agricultural sector. He believed that regional governments could learn from the Ministry of Agriculture’s method of productively using budgets, producing tangible output for farmers. Tamsil also called for accelerated access for farmers to seeds, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, and other agricultural infrastructure, ensuring a smooth and uncomplicated bureaucracy. He stated that the DPD RI is ready to ensure all parties are involved, ensuring that farmers in the regions are not merely recipients but also active participants in every policy.
At the regional level, concrete targets have been set. Mulyono, the person in charge of the Food Self-Sufficiency Program in South Kalimantan (Kalsel), explained that the Community Rice Fields (CSR) program in South Kalimantan is targeted to cover 30,000 hectares, and construction contracts have reached 10,666 hectares. He is optimistic that the target will be 100 percent achieved by October 2025. Despite challenges related to access to heavy equipment and supporting infrastructure, cross-agency coordination, the involvement of field support teams, and accelerated distribution through e-catalog mechanisms continue to be improved. This program is crucial considering that land conversion has become a threat to local food sovereignty.
One area where implementation is a concrete focus is Hulu Sungai Tengah (HST) Regency. There, the development of 200 hectares of community rice fields in Perumahan Village, North Labuan Amas District, is being accelerated. The local government, along with the Ministry of Agriculture, is targeting completion of the land development by October 2025, allowing farmers to plant rice twice a year. This effort is expected to significantly increase rice production in the region and maintain South Kalimantan’s position as one of the nation’s food barns.
Challenges do exist, particularly in infrastructure such as farm roads, heavy equipment access, and irrigation. Technical and logistical constraints sometimes hamper the acceleration of rice field development. However, the central and regional governments have demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing these challenges by forming integrated teams, expediting the Design Investigation Survey (SID) before construction, efficiently procuring goods and production facilities, and collaborating with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) or the private sector when necessary. In South Kalimantan, for example, the SID (Serving Area) project has reached around 60-70 percent progress, and once the SID is complete, construction will begin immediately.
Proactive measures have also been taken in terms of pricing and subsidy policies. The government has set a Government Purchase Price (HPP) for grain that benefits farmers and has expanded the subsidized fertilizer quota. All of this is being implemented so that farmers can not only plant more but also achieve better yields and decent profits.
The fact that farmers in many areas are happy is not an empty claim. Farmers are directly experiencing support that was previously difficult to access: assistance with tools, extension services, access to seeds and fertilizer, and a rice field printing program that allows for a dual planting season. This positive sentiment was reinforced by the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI), which stated that this agricultural transformation has brought tangible changes on the ground.
