Wamen ATR/BPN: Uncontrolled paddy field conversion disrupts national food security

Indonesia faces a critical challenge as the uncontrolled conversion of paddy fields into non-agricultural land is escalating, posing a significant threat to national food security, according to Ossy Dermawan, the Deputy Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning.

Dermawan stated that the conversion, particularly of paddy fields to other uses, is increasing not only in Central Java but across the entire Indonesian archipelago. This shift is largely driven by the demand for land for industrial development, housing projects, and livestock farming.

He emphasized that protecting paddy fields does not mean rejecting development. Instead, the focus is on ensuring that development proceeds in an orderly, fair, and measured manner, without compromising the foundation of the nation's food security. In Central Java alone, out of 1,018,107 hectares of protected paddy fields in 2021, 1,831 hectares have already been converted, primarily for housing, industry, and livestock.

To address this issue, Indonesia has established Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 12 of 2025 on the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). This regulation sets a target to designate 87% of cultivated paddy fields as sustainable food agricultural land (LP2B) by 2029. Dermawan explained that designating land as LP2B, or "paddy fields forever," provides stronger protection. When paddy fields are not designated as LP2B, their protection becomes weak, leading to uncontrolled conversion. Therefore, LP2B is viewed as a crucial instrument for safeguarding strategic lands essential for food production, farmers, and the nation's future food security.