Jakarta shifts toward higher yields after declaring domestic rice production sufficient for national demand.
Indonesia is changing course on a major food-security program, saying it will stop expanding rice cultivation into forest areas after domestic production reached levels sufficient to meet national demand.
Government Ends Forest Expansion Plan
Indonesia said on October 6, 2026, that it would halt a program involving the conversion of several million hectares of forest for rice cultivation. The initiative had been launched in 2024 with a target of developing about three million hectares of land as part of an effort to eliminate reliance on rice imports within five years.
Rice Reserves Reach 5.3 Million Tonnes
Climate envoy Hashim Djojohadikusumo said the government no longer saw a need to expand rice-growing areas into forests because national rice supplies had strengthened. He said Indonesia’s strategic rice reserves had reached around 5.3 million tonnes, while President Prabowo Subianto had earlier described the country’s ability to meet rice demand through domestic production as an important achievement.
Government Shifts to Higher Yields
Instead of expanding farmland, the government plans to focus on agricultural intensification, including the use of improved seed varieties to increase yields on existing land. National Food Agency figures cited in the reports show that Indonesia produced 34.71 million tonnes of rice in 2025, exceeding annual demand of 31.19 million tonnes.
Forest Protection Supports Climate Target
The policy shift also comes as Indonesia maintains a goal of becoming a net carbon sink by 2030, with forests and other land expected to absorb more carbon than they emit. The reports noted that continued deforestation, logging and wildfires could complicate that goal, although it remains unclear how much forest had already been converted to rice paddies before the program was halted.
Regional Haze Adds Environmental Pressure
Indonesia’s decision comes during a period of severe forest and peatland fires that have sent haze across neighboring Singapore and Malaysia. Hot and dry conditions linked to El Niño have intensified the fires, while land clearing has also been associated with some fire activity. Environmental group Mighty Earth welcomed the announcement, saying it creates an opportunity for large-scale investment in forest, peatland and ecosystem restoration.
Indonesia’s decision marks a shift from expanding rice acreage toward increasing productivity on existing farmland. For Indonesians, the policy aims to maintain food security while reducing additional pressure on forests. For Singaporeans, the environmental dimension is particularly relevant because Indonesian forest and peat fires have repeatedly affected regional air quality.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , CNA (2026)
Keywords: Indonesia Rice Self Sufficiency, Forest Clearing Indonesia, Rice Paddies, Food Security Indonesia, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Indonesian Agriculture
