Indonesia announced on October 6, 2026, that it will halt clearing forests for new rice fields after achieving self-sufficiency three years ahead of its 2029 target. Climate and energy envoy Hashim Djojohadikusumo confirmed the change at a Jakarta forum, though officials acknowledged that future plans for ongoing projects in South Papua and Kalimantan remain unresolved.
Indonesia Halts Forest Conversion After Reaching Early Rice Self-Sufficiency
Indonesia has officially abandoned its plans to clear millions of hectares of forest for new paddy fields. Speaking at the Indonesia International Sustainability Forum in Jakarta, presidential special envoy for climate and energy Hashim Djojohadikusumo declared that the government sees no further need to open new rice fields in forest areas.
Indonesia produced 34.71 million tonnes of rice in 2025, easily outpacing national demand of 31.19 million tonnes according to the National Food Agency. State statistics project output for the first nine months of 2026 at 28.71 million tonnes. Government rice reserves have swelled to approximately 5.3 million tonnes, forcing the state to rent private warehouses to manage the surplus. Hashim noted that this marked the first time in 42 years that the country had achieved self-sufficiency in the staple, a milestone previously reached under President Suharto in the mid-1980s.
“Our warehouses are chock-a-block full of rice.”
Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Special Envoy for Climate and Energy
Hashim attributed the production milestone to state incentives that raised the price floor for unhusked rice to 6,500 rupiah per kilogram from 4,000 rupiah and cut fertilizer costs by 20 percent. Mari Elka Pangestu, deputy chair of the National Economic Council, added that the two million hectare food estate program announced in 2025 is no longer needed, and that future production will rely on more than 12 million hectares of degraded land rather than clearing standing forests. The administration plans to continue intensification measures utilizing new crop varieties and superior seeds for both rice and soybeans, with the special envoy stating that the nation expects to achieve self-sufficiency in soybeans within about three years.
Officials Leave Ongoing Projects in South Papua and Kalimantan Unresolved
The immediate fate of large-scale agricultural projects currently underway remains uncertain.
Massive infrastructure and land-clearing efforts have already altered vast tracts of land, as environmental advocates point out.
Environmental Coalitions Point to Continuing Forest Threats in Papua
Environmental groups have met the government’s declaration with a mixture of praise and skepticism.
The Indonesian environmental NGO WALHI, through spokesperson Musdalifah, argued that official rhetoric does not match ongoing administrative reality, pointing out that natural forests continue to be released for various agricultural and energy initiatives. These developments risk displacing at least 24 Indigenous villages from their traditional living spaces and sustenance sources.
As the administration pledges to use intensification and degraded land, local communities and watchdog organizations continue to press for legally binding moratoria to protect remaining ecosystems, emphasizing that formal policy statements alone have repeatedly failed to halt continuous clearing on the ground. What will happen to the ongoing projects in South Papua and Kalimantan?