TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Govt to convert 20 million ha of forest for food, energy self-sufficiency program

The government plans to plant rice side by side with sugar palms, energy crops or other plants with an intercropping system.

Divya Karyza (The Jakarta Post)
Premium
Jakarta
Sun, January 5, 2025

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Govt to convert 20 million ha of forest for food, energy self-sufficiency program A shack stands next to a forest in Lhoong, Aceh on March 21, 2023. (AFP/Chaideer Mahyuddin)

T

he government plans to convert a total of 20 million hectares of forest across Indonesia into agricultural land to produce food, energy and water for the country’s self-sufficiency program.

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said the Agriculture Ministry and the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry will make use of the forest land, including to establish several small food barns on top of large-scale food estate projects.

“Together with the Agriculture Ministry, we have identified around 20 million ha that could be used [to produce] food, energy and water reserves,” he said in Jakarta on Thursday, as reported by Bloombergtechnoz.

Read also: Govt to slash corn, salt, sugar import quotas for 2025

Raja Juli went on to say that the government is planning to utilize 1.1 million ha of the total land area to plant dryland rice, a variety of rice grown in a dry environment, which is expected to have an annual production capacity of 3.5 tonnes of rice per hectare.

General Soedirman University in Central Java will supply the dryland rice seeds.

Prospects

Every Monday

With exclusive interviews and in-depth coverage of the region's most pressing business issues, "Prospects" is the go-to source for staying ahead of the curve in Indonesia's rapidly evolving business landscape.

By registering, you agree with The Jakarta Post's

Thank You

for signing up our newsletter!

Please check your email for your newsletter subscription.

View More Newsletter

The government is aiming to secure additional rice stocks of up to 3.5 million tonnes per year from the program, equivalent to the amount of rice imports in 2023.

to Read Full Story

  • Unlimited access to our web and app content
  • e-Post daily digital newspaper
  • No advertisements, no interruptions
  • Privileged access to our events and programs
  • Subscription to our newsletters
or

Purchase access to this article for

We accept

TJP - Visa
TJP - Mastercard
TJP - GoPay

Redirecting you to payment page

Pay per article

Govt to convert 20 million ha of forest for food, energy self-sufficiency program

Rp 29,000 / article

1
Create your free account
By proceeding, you consent to the revised Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.
Already have an account?

2
  • Palmerat Barat No. 142-143
  • Central Jakarta
  • DKI Jakarta
  • Indonesia
  • 10270
  • +6283816779933
2
Total Rp 29,000

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.