Conversion of agricultural land use threatens Indonesia’s food security
Indonesia's agricultural land faces mounting pressure from multiple fronts, from oil palm plantations to urbanisation and tourism development.
The rapid conversion of agricultural land in Indonesia is raising serious concerns about the nation’s food security.
According to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) cited by The Jakarta Post, the agricultural sector has maintained an average contribution of 13.1% to the country's GDP between 2014 and 2023. The figure corresponds with significant employment as agriculture absorbed 28.2% of Indonesia's total workforce in 2023.
The World Bank data reveals that agriculture remains the primary livelihood source for impoverished families, with 64% of poor people working in this sector in 2020.
However, Indonesia's agricultural land faces mounting pressure from multiple fronts, from oil palm plantations to urbanisation and tourism development.
Between 2011 and 2022, nearly 91% of converted land in Java was rice paddies. In Bali, rice fields are gradually giving way to residential areas, resorts, and hotels. If current trends persist, the risk of food insecurity will continue to escalate.
The Sustainable Food System Coalition (KSPL) developed a comprehensive assessment model to evaluate food supply and demand across six major regions of Indonesia, accounting for land requirements for rice, corn, cassava, and other purposes. The analysis revealed that without intervention measures, current land use trends could create substantial pressure on food supply and push Indonesia towards food insecurity by 2045.
Indonesia issued regulations aimed at protecting agricultural land, particularly paddy fields. However, conversion continues due to multiple factors including population growth, changing living standards and consumption patterns, declining agricultural productivity, land use regulations, and trade impacts.
Experts proposed at least two solutions to address the crisis. The first involves establishing a monitoring system with participation from farmers and local governments to promptly detect and warn about land conversion activities. The second focuses on promoting inclusive business models that help farmers increase income through efficient supply chains, value-added product development, and enhanced negotiation capacity./.
