11 Regions Miss Paddy Field Targets, Surakarta Under Scrutiny

As many as 11 regencies and cities in Central Java, including Surakarta and Semarang, have reportedly not yet met the minimum target of 87 percent for established paddy field area set by the central government. This situation has prompted swift action from Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi to consolidate all regional heads in an effort to slow the rate of land conversion.

During a Coordination Meeting on Controlling Paddy Field Conversion held at Hotel Gumaya, Semarang, on Thursday, Luthfi stressed the importance of accelerating the designation of Protected Paddy Fields. Currently, Central Java’s collective achievement has only reached 85.11 percent.

Luthfi explained that the primary obstacle in urban areas such as Solo and Semarang is the physical limitation of available land. “Solo hasn’t met the target because it lacks sufficient land. There will be guidance from the ministry so that they can collaborate with other regions, ensuring the provincial target is still achieved,” Luthfi stated.

He added that designating Protected Paddy Fields is crucial to provide legal certainty for investors while simultaneously safeguarding green zones. “We are organising this so there are no further attempts to convert green land to other functions. Once it is formalised, this data will be submitted to the ministry so it cannot be altered again,” he asserted.

Deputy Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency, Ossy Darmawan, who attended the meeting, commended the initiative by the Central Java Provincial Government. According to him, this step aligns with the food self-sufficiency programme under President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita vision.

“Central Java is a highly progressive region. With its existing paddy field area, Central Java can become a national role model in resolving land conversion issues,” Ossy remarked.

The government hopes that with the spirit of mutual cooperation and the commitment of regional heads, the remaining 1.89 percent target shortfall can be fulfilled soon to guarantee the sustainability of the agricultural sector in this national food barn.