Optimizing Rice Fields, Government Boosts Food Self-Sufficiency Through Land Revitalization
Sigi – The government continues to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening national food security through concrete steps to optimize rice fields, especially in areas that have been affected by disasters and droughts. This effort is not only about food production, but also concerns the restoration of farmers’ welfare and strengthening national resilience in facing global climate challenges.
In Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi, the local government will immediately work on 400 hectares of agricultural land that was damaged by the 2018 natural disaster. This step was taken as part of the national strategy towards food self-sufficiency. Sigi Regent, Mohamad Rizal Intjenae, emphasized that land optimization is the main mission of the local government to support the national agenda.
“We plan to optimize disaster-affected land as part of a strategy to support food self-sufficiency. This is a step to improve farmers’ welfare and restore the agricultural sector sustainably,” Rizal said firmly.
In addition to preparing the land, the Sigi Regency Government is also collaborating with various parties to accelerate the revitalization process.
“Of course, this is a form of our commitment to maintaining food security amidst the challenges of climate change and extreme weather,” added Rizal.
This step is also accompanied by mapping of Sustainable Food Agricultural Land (LP2B), so that productivity potential can be maximized.
Nationally, the government through the Ministry of Agriculture continues to mobilize all sectors to answer major challenges, especially ahead of the 2025 dry season. Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Ali Jamil, MP, Ph.D., emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration to secure national food production.
“Of the approximately 7.89 million hectares of rice fields in Indonesia, 3.7 million hectares are rain-fed rice fields. This is a major challenge in the dry season, and must be faced with irrigation and pumping systems,” explained Ali Jamil.
He stressed that technical approaches such as irrigation and pumps are key to maintaining rice field productivity amidst water constraints.
This land optimization policy is in line with the government’s vision to ensure that every inch of available land can be used productively, especially in the face of climate uncertainty. Local and central governments are now working hand in hand to build a resilient, modern and sustainable agricultural system.
The public is also expected to fully support this program, because food self-sufficiency is not only the government’s business, but the interests of all Indonesian people. Amid increasingly complex global challenges, Indonesia must be able to stand on its own two feet in terms of food.
The land revitalization step is not only an answer to the threat of drought, but also real evidence that the government is present among the people, working for food sovereignty and farmer welfare.
