Is it possible for Indonesia to enhance food production without causing further deforestation?
Indonesia, home to the world's second-largest tropical peatland after Brazil, has embarked on an ambitious plan to become self-sufficient in food supply by 2028. The Food Estates programme, spearheaded by President Prabowo Subianto, aims to convert 20 million hectares (49 million acres) of forests and peatland into farmland across the archipelago.
However, progress has been slow. By 2023, only 47,000 hectares had been planted under the food estate programme. This is concerning, given that Indonesia's peatlands store approximately 57 gigatonnes of planet-heating carbon, and draining peatlands globally emits an estimated 1.9 billion tonnes of CO2 annually.
The government's plan is to develop farmland on formerly logged areas and non-forestland to avoid deforestation. Yet, 64% of the total area planned for the food estates is protected peatland. This raises concerns about the potential impact on the environment and carbon emissions.
In an effort to boost agriculture, President Subianto has pledged to invest 124 trillion rupiah (US$7.5 billion) this year for agriculture technology and infrastructure. The government also plans to work with China to develop a new type of rice and other crops suitable for the soil in Indonesia.
Indonesia ranks 63rd out of 113 countries in the Economist Impact think tank's 2022 Global Food Security Index. The production of rice, one of Indonesia's main staples, has plateaued at 31 million tons in 2023. Rice imports have increased significantly, jumping to 3 million tons in 2023 from 305,000 tonnes in 2017.
As the Food Estates programme moves forward, concerns about its environmental impact and the effectiveness of the strategy to achieve self-sufficiency in food supply are growing. Some experts suggest focusing on strengthening food distribution, technologies to help farmers boost production, and regenerative methods to maintain soil and crop quality, rather than large-scale conversion of forests and peatlands.
The failure of the Mega Rice Project in 1995, a precursor to the food estate programme, serves as a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead. The project, which converted 1 million hectares of peat swamp in Borneo for rice production, was abandoned four years later due to unsuitability for rice cultivation.
As Indonesia navigates this complex issue, striking a balance between food security and environmental conservation will be crucial. The success of the Food Estates programme could set a precedent for other countries facing similar challenges.
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