Indonesia's Smallholder Farmers Surge to 62% of Agricultural Workforce Amid Land Fragmentation

Smallholder farmers, defined as those cultivating less than half a hectare of land, face persistent challenges in Indonesia, often living in poverty and relying on subsistence harvests.

These farmers, who may own or rent their small plots, typically produce only enough to feed their families. To supplement their meager incomes, many seek additional work as laborers in construction or other casual jobs. They are particularly vulnerable to rising costs, such as fertilizer prices, and to the impacts of climate change, which can lead to crop failure.

According to the 2023 Agricultural Census, the number of smallholder farmers has surged, now comprising 62% of all farmers who use land in Indonesia. This represents a significant increase from 2013, indicating a trend of shrinking and fragmenting landholdings. The data shows 17.25 million individuals classified as smallholder farmers out of a total of 27.8 million land-using farmers.

The concentration of these farmers is highest in Java, particularly in East Java, Central Java, and West Java, due to high population density and extensive land conversion. The government has implemented various support programs, including fertilizer subsidies, irrigation improvements, and agricultural insurance, to aid this vulnerable group. However, the census results highlight the growing scale of the challenge, with 16.89 million farming households now categorized as smallholder, an 18.54% rise from 14.25 million in 2013.