Politics · Indonesia · 4 hrs ago
Indonesian lawmakers say small farmers struggle to earn a living
Indonesia’s House Agriculture Committee says small farmers are still struggling to earn a decent living despite government aid and subsidies.
Committee deputy chair Hanan A. Rozak said many farmers have too little land to make farming pay, with some in Java owning less than half a hectare.
Small plots may not cover rising household costs, including electricity, phone service and children’s education.
Hanan said Indonesia’s farmers are on average at least 48 years old, while fewer young people are entering the sector.
An ageing workforce puts farm productivity and renewal at risk, especially without sustained modernization and machinery.
The committee wants income policies alongside farm technology, including government purchase prices intended to support farmers.
It is urging the government to focus not only on production targets but also on improving farmers’ earnings and purchasing power.
Indonesian lawmakers say small farmers remain far from earning enough to live adequately, despite government aid and subsidies.
Hanan A. Rozak, deputy chair of the House of Representatives’ Commission IV, said limited land is a major barrier to farmers’ welfare.
He said the scale of farming is not enough to cover rising living costs, including energy, phone and education expenses.
Rozak said the average age of Indonesian farmers is 48 or older, raising concerns about labor and the renewal of the farming workforce.
Commission IV urged the government to focus on social and economic policies that improve farmers’ income and purchasing power.
- Who
- Hanan A. Rozak, deputy chair of the House of Representatives’ Commission IV, and small farmers in Indonesia.
- What
- Lawmakers highlighted small farmers’ difficulty earning enough to live adequately and called for policies to improve their income and purchasing power.
- When
- Rozak spoke on Wednesday, October 21; the article was published on October 22, 2026.
- Where
- At a public discussion in South Jakarta, Indonesia.
- Why
- Limited farmland and rising living costs make it difficult for farmers to support their households; an aging workforce also threatens productivity.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hanan A. Rozak spoke at a public discussion in South Jakarta about the economic challenges facing small farmers.
CNN Indonesia published its report on the lawmakers’ concerns.
- Land size cited
- Less than half a hectare for some farmers in Java
- Average farmer age
- 48 years or older
- Discussion location
- South Jakarta
- Discussion date
- October 21
- Article publication
- October 22, 2026
What people are saying
This is the problem; it is not simple. Because our farmers, if asked what a farmer is, are people who own land; in Java, for example, less than half a hectare.
With land that small, is it enough for that many children? Come on. So what does that mean? This has to transform; the economic scale has to be met.
If I am not mistaken, the average age of farmers is already 48 and above. It may be approaching 50 now. So their capacity to work on farmland is very limited. We need machines.
Policies must run in parallel. It is not only about technical technology; social and economic policies must also be considered. For example, the government purchase price. It supports farmers. Farmers are happy now.