Politics · Indonesia · 13 hrs ago
Prabowo Says Food Expansion Must Not Clear Primary Forests
President Prabowo told Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman not to clear primary forests for Indonesia’s planned expansion of food production.
The government plans to start work on 500,000 hectares of mineral-swamp land, which Amran said is not peatland.
The land is intended for food crops such as rice, corn and soybeans, including crops in short supply.
The government has mapped potential mineral-swamp land across 20 provinces, as part of a wider plan to develop up to 2 million hectares.
Amran said the initial work would be carried out with the military and the Defence Ministry.
The government hopes the expansion will strengthen food production to meet future needs, including those of a population of 500 million people.
President Prabowo Subianto said food-production expansion must not involve clearing primary forests.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman assured him the government would not open primary forest for food production.
The government plans to develop up to 2 million hectares of mineral-swamp land for food crops.
The first phase is planned to cover 500,000 hectares, with the military and the Ministry of Defence involved.
The land is described as mineral-swamp land, not peatland, and is intended for crops including rice, maize and soybeans.
- Who
- President Prabowo Subianto and Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman.
- What
- Prabowo said food expansion must not clear primary forests; Amran agreed.
- When
- The articles give different dates for the cabinet meeting: October 21 and October 23, 2026.
- Where
- At a plenary cabinet meeting at the State Palace, Indonesia.
- Why
- The government plans to expand food production and strengthen national food security.
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- Planned land development
- Up to 2 million hectares
- First phase
- 500,000 hectares
- Land type
- Mineral-swamp land, not peatland
- Planned crops
- Rice, maize and soybeans
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