Indonesia says will halt forest destruction for rice paddies

Indonesia will halt a plan to clear forest for rice production as it has achieved rice self-sufficiency.

The government will focus on enhancing rice yields through intensification instead of expanding cultivation areas.

Wildfires linked to land clearing have affected neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Singapore with haze.

JAKARTA, Oct 6 — Indonesia said today it will halt a project to raze several million hectares of forest to clear land for rice production, saying it had reached self-sufficiency levels of the staple grain.

The government launched a programme in 2024 to stop relying on rice imports within five years by clearing three million hectares of land for paddies.

Indonesia is one of the world’s most forested countries, and as such a major absorber of planet-warming carbon emissions from mankind’s burning of fossil fuel.

It aims to become a net carbon sink by 2030, with forests and other land use absorbing more carbon than they emit.

However, observers have said continuing forest destruction for agriculture and logging, as well as rampant wildfires, could put Indonesia’s plans at risk.

President Prabowo Subianto hailed an “important victory” this year after data showed countrywide rice demand had been met with domestic production in one of the world’s top consumers of the commodity.

Climate envoy Hashim Djojohadikusumo said on Tuesday the government’s strategic reserve rice stock had reached about 5.3 million tons.

“The government sees no further need for expanding rice cultivation areas in the so-called forest areas,” said Hashim, who is Prabowo’s brother.

He added that the government will focus instead on “intensification measures” using superior seeds, for example, to increase rice yields.

It was not known how much forest had already been replaced by rice paddies before the project was halted.

According to the National Food Agency, a government body that seeks to advance food security, Indonesia produced 34.71 million tonnes of rice in 2025 — exceeding annual demand of 31.19 million tonnes.

Haze from wildfires consuming forests and peatlands in Indonesia has blanketed neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore for weeks.

Hot, dry conditions associated with the El Nino weather phenomenon have fuelled the fires, which are also linked to land clearing. — AFP

‘Okinawa is not your amusement park’: Protesters rally over US military violence in Tokyo

Israel marks October 7 anniversary under ceasefire — and weeks before election

Tears at Jakarta airport as Indonesian sailors return from Somali pirate hostage ordeal

Melaka poll dates in focus at special EC meeting today

Ten saved from house fire in Perai

Human rights shouldn’t be a box-ticking exercise, Azalina tells businesses

印尼已实现大米自给自足，将停止为种植水稻而砍伐森林的计划。

政府将着重通过集约化生产来提高水稻产量，而不是扩大种植面积。

与土地开垦有关的野火已经影响到马来西亚和新加坡等邻国，造成雾霾。

雅加达，10 月 6 日——印尼今天表示，将停止一项砍伐数百万公顷森林以清理土地用于水稻生产的项目，称该国已达到主粮自给自足的水平。

政府于 2024 年启动了一项计划，旨在通过清理 300 万公顷土地用于种植水稻，在五年内停止依赖大米进口。

印度尼西亚是世界上森林覆盖率最高的国家之一，因此也是人类燃烧化石燃料产生的导致全球变暖的碳排放的主要吸收地。

其目标是到 2030 年成为净碳汇，使森林和其他土地利用吸收的碳比排放的碳多。

然而，观察人士表示，为发展农业和伐木而持续破坏森林，以及肆虐的野火，可能会危及印尼的计划。

今年，普拉博沃·苏比安托总统称赞这是“一项重要的胜利”，数据显示，作为世界主要大米消费国之一的印度，全国大米需求已通过国内生产得到满足。

气候特使哈希姆·乔乔哈迪库苏莫周二表示，政府的战略储备大米库存已达到约530万吨。

“政府认为没有必要在所谓的森林地区扩大水稻种植面积，”普拉博沃的兄弟哈希姆说。

他还补充说，政府将转而集中精力采取“强化措施”，例如使用优良种子来提高水稻产量。

在项目停止之前，尚不清楚有多少森林已被稻田取代。

据致力于推进粮食安全的政府机构——国家粮食局称，印尼在2025年生产了3471万吨大米，超过了3119万吨的年需求量。

印度尼西亚森林和泥炭地燃起的野火产生的烟雾已经笼罩邻国马来西亚和新加坡数周之久。

厄尔尼诺现象带来的高温干燥天气加剧了火灾，而土地开垦也与火灾有关。——法新社

“冲绳不是你们的游乐园”：抗议者在东京集会反对美军暴力行为

以色列纪念10月7日停火周年——距离大选仅剩几周

印尼水手从索马里海盗劫持人质事件中获释，在雅加达机场泪流满面。

今天特别选举委员会会议将重点讨论马六甲州选举日期。

北赖一处民宅发生火灾，十人获救。

阿扎利娜告诉企业，人权不应该只是走过场。