The government is planning to open approximately 20 million hectares of agricultural land.
The Minister of Forestry of Indonesia, Raja Juli Antoni, stated this following his meeting with President Prabowo Subianto.
The proposal has sparked various reactions from the public. Experts at UGM collectively recommended that, as of now, there is no urgency for the government to open new land massively, even though the policy aims to increase food availability.
Instead, they urged the government to improve the current agricultural system, which is considered suboptimal.
These views emerged during the Pemikiran Bulaksumur seminar organized by the UGM Board of Professors, titled “Debate, Dilemmas, and Solutions for the 20 Million Hectares of Forest for Food Policy,” on Thursday (Jan. 16).
Professor Subejo, an agricultural socio-economic policy observer, noted that many factors affect the stability of food production, which is disrupted by inefficient fertilizer use, limited agricultural equipment, and insufficient agricultural irrigation.
Moreover, the agricultural sector faces the challenge of an aging farmer population, with few young people interested in farming.
“The government’s task is to encourage young Indonesians to enter the agricultural sector for regeneration,” he explained.
Additionally, Professor Subejo stated that the competency level of human resources in the farming sector remains low, as most farmers have only completed elementary school education.
“All these factors must be addressed and managed properly, as they will significantly impact Indonesia’s future food security,” he said.
The plan to convert 20 million hectares of land into energy sources is also considered unnecessary at present. The current palm oil forests can still meet the demand for palm oil or bioethanol-based energy.
Furthermore, forest land clearing brings numerous side effects, and within the framework of sustainable development, it is crucial to consider the balance of biodiversity and food availability.
Professor Widiyatno from the UGM Faculty of Forestry stated that the government does not need to open new land by damaging forests but can instead utilize already unproductive or degraded forest land.
Moreover, the government has committed to reducing carbon emissions to less than 198.27 million tons by 2025.
“Land clearing would be more appropriate if it utilizes degraded forests, making them productive and beneficial for both food and the environment,” he emphasized.
Regarding the current food project proposed by the government, Professor Widiyatno acknowledged that similar programs have existed since colonial times and have the potential to create traumatic vulnerability.
Land clearing impacts environmental balance and the social conditions of affected communities. Indigenous peoples living near forests, for instance, have often been given false promises and hope by the government. Various methods are used to acquire their land.
“Ultimately, this only causes internal conflicts within communities due to land control politics. Their land is taken, but their welfare is not improved,” he said.
UGM anthropologist Dr. Laksmi Adriani Savitri urged the government to reassess the plan to open 20 million hectares of forest to avoid potential conflicts with Indigenous peoples or communities living around the forest.
“Our society wants to be invited to sit down and talk as equals,” she stated.
Author: Jelita Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photo: Freepik