Indonesia Mobilizes Funds to Revive Flood-Damaged Rice Fields in Sumatra
Jakarta – The Indonesian government is responding to widespread flooding in Sumatra with a significant financial commitment to rehabilitate damaged rice fields and safeguard regional food supplies. Approximately Rp336 billion (roughly US$21.6 million) has been allocated by the Ministry of Agriculture to accelerate recovery efforts in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
The initiative, which began with a nationwide launch on January 15, 2026, prioritizes the restoration of lightly to moderately damaged paddies, enabling farmers to resume planting as quickly as possible. Director General of Agricultural Land and Irrigation, Hermanto, emphasized the importance of swift action to maintain regional food security.
“The budget will be used to restore rice fields with light to moderate damage so they can quickly return to production and maintain regional food supplies,” Hermanto stated, according to reports from Antara on February 16, 2026.
The scale of the damage was highlighted by Indonesian Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, who inspected the affected rice fields in Meurah Dua District, Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh, on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Approximately 1,500 hectares of community-owned rice fields are submerged under a thick layer of mud, in some areas reaching between fifty centimeters and one meter deep. Thousands of additional hectares have sustained mild to moderate damage.
Karnavian, who also heads the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction for the Sumatra Region, expressed concern over the potential impact on rice production. “This is a great shame for the people, and our rice production could also be reduced,” he said in an official statement.
Pidie Jaya Regency is considered a key food-producing area, with approximately 8,800 hectares dedicated to agriculture. The damage to these lands poses a significant threat to local and regional food availability if not addressed promptly.
Despite the urgency, rehabilitation efforts are complicated by ongoing weather challenges. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency forecasts moderate to high rainfall levels to continue through March, hindering field operations and sediment removal. Technical teams are adapting their strategies to account for these conditions.
The Ministry of Agriculture is focusing on repairing damaged irrigation systems alongside the land rehabilitation, ensuring farmers have the infrastructure needed to resume cultivation. In Aceh alone, around 10,000 hectares are targeted for rehabilitation, requiring an estimated 200,000 workdays. The initial phase of the program, from January to February 2026, prioritizes 13,708 hectares of lightly and moderately damaged land before addressing areas with more severe damage.
Hermanto noted that the government is committed to maintaining food production and strengthening national food security, even amidst these challenging circumstances. He expressed hope that Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman would quickly address the land conditions to restore productivity. “Hopefully, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Amran Sulaiman, will immediately address the condition of the land so it can be productive again,” he said.
The allocation of Rp336 billion underscores the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and mitigating the impact of the floods on the agricultural sector. The program aims to not only restore damaged land but also to ensure a stable food supply for the region.
