Indonesia said it will abandon a proposal to turn millions of acres of forest into rice paddies after reporting that domestic production now covers national demand for the staple.
The decision could keep a huge forested area intact in a country whose woodlands absorb large amounts of carbon, even as smoke from Indonesian fires has spread across parts of Southeast Asia.
Here's what to know
According to Channel News Asia, officials said on Oct. 6 that a 2024 initiative to clear about 7.4 million acres for rice farming will be halted. The project was part of a five-year effort to reduce Indonesia's dependence on imported rice.
The pause followed new government figures showing rice output had risen above annual demand. Indonesia's National Food Agency said the country produced 38.3 million tons of rice in 2025, compared with demand of 34.4 million tons. President Prabowo Subianto called the outcome an "important victory" for one of the world's largest rice-consuming nations.
Climate envoy Hashim Djojohadikusumo — who is also Prabowo's brother — said there was no longer a need to push rice cultivation into forested areas.
"The government sees no further need for expanding rice cultivation areas in the so-called forest areas," Hashim said.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
More background
Indonesia's vast forest cover makes it one of the world's key carbon absorbers, and the country has set a 2030 goal for its forests and land sector to take in more carbon than they emit.
Haze over Malaysia and Singapore from fires burning Indonesian forests and peatlands has highlighted that challenge. Continued forest loss tied to agriculture and logging, along with wildfires, has made the 2030 target harder to reach.
Land clearing and El Niño-related heat and dryness have intensified the fires. It remains unclear how much forest had already been converted into rice paddies before the plan was halted.
What's being done?
Rather than expand into more forest, Indonesia said it will try to increase production on land already being farmed. Hashim said officials will pursue "intensification measures," such as better seeds, to raise yields instead of expanding the cultivated area.
He also said Indonesia's strategic rice stock had reached about 5.8 million tons, as the country steps back from the 2024 program designed to end rice imports within five years.
Advocacy group Mighty Earth welcomed the announcement.
"This decision renews Indonesia's leadership in showing how to expand agriculture while protecting nature," Mighty Earth founder Glenn Hurowitz said.
Where can I learn more?
Indonesia's decision sits within broader fights over forest protection and food security. Other reporting has tracked anti-deforestation efforts in Indonesia and Europe, climate threats to rice harvests, and related battles over forest loss and crop resilience.
• In Indonesia, officials rolled out a deforestation tracking tool ahead of the EU import deadline.
• In Bangladesh, rice producers scrambled after flooding wiped out 1.1 million tons of crops.
• In Brussels, lawmakers watered down anti-deforestation rules despite warnings about climate and forest loss.
• In Suriname, communities have preserved climate-resilient ancestral rice first hidden by an escaped ancestor.
• In Peru, satellite images showed illegal deforestation accelerating where Mennonite colonies keep expanding.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
