Politics · Indonesia · 1 hr ago
Riau, Papua and Banten Fall Short of Protected Farmland Target
Indonesia requires at least 87% of each province’s rice-field area to be protected farmland under a scheme intended to preserve land for food production.
Nationally, 87.98% of the country’s 7.34 million hectares of designated rice fields has been included, but Riau, Papua and Banten remain below the target.
Riau has protected 76.24% of its rice-field area, in part because much of its land is used for oil palm rather than rice.
Banten has reached 84.73%, with non-farming permits for housing and industrial areas reducing the land available for protection.
Papua has reached 78.02%, with officials citing a shortage of existing rice fields.
Protected farmland generally cannot be converted to other uses unless replacement land of equal quality and productivity is provided.
The government says the three provinces must make up the shortfall, but has set no deadline for them to do so.
Riau, Papua and Banten are below Indonesia’s 87% target for designating existing rice fields as sustainable food farmland.
Nationally, 87.98% of 7.34 million hectares of existing rice fields have been designated, covering 6.46 million hectares.
Riau has designated 76.24%, Papua 78.02% and Banten 84.73%.
Officials attributed the shortfalls to limited existing rice fields in Riau and Papua, and non-agricultural permits in Banten.
The government says the three provinces must complete their designations, but has set no deadline.
- Who
- The provinces of Riau, Papua and Banten have not met the target. Land Minister Nusron Wahid and Food Affairs Minister Zulkifli Hasan discussed the shortfall.
- What
- The provinces have designated less than 87% of their existing rice fields as sustainable food farmland.
- When
- The issue was discussed at a limited coordination meeting on November 11, 2026.
- Where
- At the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs in Jakarta.
- Why
- Riau and Papua have limited existing rice fields, while non-agricultural permits have reduced eligible land in Banten.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Some large non-agricultural permits for sites in Banten had been issued by this year.
Some large non-agricultural permits for sites in Banten had been issued by this year.
Some large non-agricultural permits for sites in Banten had been issued by this year.
Officials discussed the three provinces’ shortfalls at a coordination meeting in Jakarta.
- National designation
- 87.98% of 7.34 million hectares, or 6.46 million hectares
- Riau
- 76.24% designated
- Papua
- 78.02% designated
- Banten
- 84.73% designated
- Target
- At least 87% of existing rice fields designated as sustainable food farmland
What people are saying
There are still three provinces below 87%.
We will still assign those three provinces to complete it. But we have not set a deadline.