Indonesia sees no need to clear forests for new rice fields

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia sees no need to expand rice fields into forest areas, Presidential Special Envoy for Climate and Energy Hashim Djojohadikusumo said on Tuesday, as the government seeks to boost food production without further clearing forests.

Speaking at the Indonesia International Sustainability Forum in Jakarta, Hashim said the decision was based on the successful achievement of the food estate program’s targets without having to convert 2 million hectares of forest.

“The Indonesian government, particularly through the Ministry of Agriculture, and as conveyed through me as the Special Envoy, announces that the government sees no further need to open new rice fields in forest areas,” he said.

The government will instead seek to optimize the use of swamp land in Papua and Kalimantan, he said.

The success of these programs, Hashim said, had enabled Indonesia to achieve rice self-sufficiency, reducing the need to expand agricultural land into forest areas.

“I want to reiterate this announcement that the government sees no need to expand rice fields in forest areas,” Hashim said.

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) projects rice production for public consumption from January to September 2026 at 28.71 million metric tons, a slight 0.01 percent increase from the same period last year.

BPS estimates potential rice production for July to September 2026 at 9.36 million metric tons, down 0.88 percent from the same period last year.

The projection could change due to drought, floods, pest attacks, and shifts in the harvest period, BPS said.

The Agriculture Ministry’s 2026 food balance projection puts national rice production at 34.77 million metric tons, compared with estimated domestic demand of 31.10 million metric tons, implying a surplus of about 3.67 million metric tons.