Government prepares regulations for fines on paddy fields that have already changed function

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government is preparing technical regulations in the form of a Draft Government Regulation (RPP) for fines on protected paddy fields that have already been converted to non-agricultural uses. Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan, during a coordination meeting in Jakarta on Monday, stated that these technical rules will focus on handling paddy fields that have already changed function. Based on preliminary data, from 2019 to 2025, nearly 600,000 hectares of paddy fields have turned into non-paddy areas. Meanwhile, data for the 2010-2019 period is still being processed. “The technical RPP for the fines is currently being formulated. For example, if someone uses productive paddy fields with irrigation, they must replace it three times over, or something like that; it will be formulated further,” he explained. He added that the amount of compensation will be adjusted to the land’s productivity level. “In the next ten days, it will be finalised by the echelon I officials, then we will proceed to harmonisation,” he said. His side targets that the RPP can be completed within one to two months ahead. After that, all violations of paddy field conversions will be required to carry out replacements in accordance with the provisions. He explained that to date, the government has designated protected paddy fields in eight provinces with a total area of 3,836,944 hectares. In addition, 12 additional provinces with an area of 2,739,640.69 hectares have also been technically completed and are awaiting determination from the technical ministry. The government targets the completion of all designations of protected paddy fields in the remaining 17 provinces by the second quarter of 2026, with an additional total of around 744,000 hectares. Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasised that this policy is not only punitive but also aims to increase the national paddy land area. “We will make the regulations, but the most important thing is that these paddy fields will have replacements,” he said. The Minister of Agriculture believes this policy can significantly increase the paddy land area. “Hopefully two or three times, meaning we can get 1 million to 2 million hectares. And if this becomes a reality, it will greatly help the country,” Amran added.