Agriculture Minister Strengthens Indonesia-Australia Partnership to Develop Modern Farming
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman is strengthening the partnership between Indonesia and Australia in developing a modern irrigation system in the Dadahup printed rice-field area in Central Kalimantan, aiming to raise productivity and bolster national food security.
“This collaboration is a strategic step to increase the productivity of peatland whilst strengthening national food security through the application of more modern technology and water governance,” the Minister said in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The enhanced cooperation was affirmed during a restricted bilateral meeting between Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman and the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Rod Brazier, at the Agriculture Ministry’s headquarters in Jakarta.
The Minister expressed appreciation for the Australian Government’s support through the Australian Water Partnership (AWP), which facilitated an Expert Mission in the Dadahup area.
According to him, the findings of the Australian experts further strengthen confidence that Dadahup has great potential to become a model for modern peatland agricultural development in Indonesia.
“The results of the Australian experts’ study show that Dadahup has great potential to become a model for modern peatland farming. The recommendations given align closely with Indonesia’s priorities in accelerating the increase of the Planting Index (IP) 300 and strengthening national food security,” the Minister said.
To accelerate implementation of these recommendations, Indonesia is pushing five strategic steps: establishing a Joint Technical Working Group, preparing an Integrated Water Management Masterplan and Roadmap for Dadahup, and strengthening farmer-based water governance.
These will be followed by enhancing human resource capacity through digital technologies such as telemetry, remote sensing and decision support systems, as well as developing Dadahup as an Indonesia-Australia Demonstration Project and a living laboratory for modern peatland farming.
The cooperation follows a visit by Australian experts to the Dadahup printed rice-field area in April 2026. The area is a government focus for developing productive peatland to increase national food production.
Beyond Dadahup’s development, the bilateral meeting also produced a commitment to strengthen agricultural trade between Indonesia and Australia.
In the livestock sector, the Minister also requested Australia’s support in maintaining the supply of live cattle to Indonesia to meet national needs.
Going forward, Indonesia and Australia agreed to expand cooperation in investment, research, innovation, human resource development and fertilisers to support resilient and sustainable agricultural development.
In response, Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Rod Brazier said Australia is ready to follow up on the outcomes of the various discussions with the Agriculture Ministry.
Brazier also explained that the final report of the Australian experts’ study on Dadahup has been submitted to the Agriculture Minister as the basis for planning the next steps in developing the area.
“We hope this report can help Indonesia improve the productivity of the Dadahup area and make it an example of modern peatland agricultural development,” Brazier said.
Brazier expressed hope that the import licensing process can run more smoothly so that agricultural trade between the two countries becomes more efficient and mutually beneficial.
According to 2025 data, total agricultural trade between Indonesia and Australia reached approximately US$3.2 billion. Indonesia’s agricultural exports to Australia were worth around US$203 million, whilst imports from Australia stood at roughly US$3 billion.