Bali parliament pushes to revise traditional farming regulation for increased farmer aid

Members of the Bali Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) are advocating for a revision of the local regulation on 'subak,' the traditional Balinese agricultural system. The proposed changes aim to provide increased financial assistance to these organizations, which are crucial for maintaining the island's food security and cultural heritage.

The push for revision stems from growing alarm over the significant reduction in rice paddy fields on the island. I Nyoman Suwirta, Chairman of Commission IV of the DPRD Bali, stated that discussions would begin with amending the subak regulation, with a proposal to increase aid in the 2027 regional budget. "We will discuss it, starting with changing the subak regulation first, then in the 2027 APBD we will propose that the assistance can be increased," he said.

Council members highlighted data from the Bali Provincial National Land Agency indicating a loss of 6,521.81 hectares of rice fields between 2019 and 2024. This represents a decrease of approximately 9.19 percent, or about 1.53 percent annually. This shrinking agricultural land is seen as a critical threat to Bali's food supply and its identity as a cultural tourism icon.

Furthermore, the current financial aid, known as Special Financial Assistance (BKK), for subak is considered insufficient. Records show that in 2026, each subak received only Rp15 million, a decrease from previous years where amounts reached up to Rp50 million. This contrasts with the increased funding for traditional villages, which rose from Rp250 million to Rp300 million annually. The DPRD believes that traditional farmers, who face challenges with water, fertilizer, and pests, and often struggle with unfavorable selling prices, deserve greater support.