Indonesia says it will halt forest destruction for rice paddies
Asia-Pacific2 sources2 countries🔦 Under-reported40m ago
The Indonesian government announced on Tuesday that it will cease a project intended to clear several million hectares of forest for rice cultivation. The decision marks a shift in land-use strategy regarding the country's agricultural development and environmental preservation efforts.
Recent data indicates that Indonesia’s rice production reached 34.71 million tonnes in 2025, a figure that surpasses the national annual demand of 31.19 million tonnes. This surplus suggests that the planned forest clearing was not strictly required to meet domestic food consumption needs.
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Free Malaysia Today (MY)Highlights rice production surplus as context for the policy change