Home Affairs and ATR/BPN Ministries Synchronise Regulations on Rice Fields and Housing Areas

Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian and Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Nusron Wahid have signed a Joint Circular (SEB) on the Integration of Sustainable Food Agricultural Land (LP2B) into the Regional Spatial Plan (RTRW) and/or Detailed Spatial Plan (RDTR) of regencies/cities. The circular serves as a guideline for regional governments to integrate LP2B into spatial planning while supporting the national food self-sufficiency programme.

This was confirmed by the Home Affairs Minister while chairing a Coordination Meeting (Rakor) coupled with the signing of a Joint Decree (SKB) on Support for the Acceleration of the 3 Million Houses Development Programme and the SEB related to the Integration of Sustainable Food Agricultural Land. The event took place in a hybrid format from the Sasana Bhakti Praja Building, Ministry of Home Affairs Headquarters, Jakarta, on Friday (19/6/2026).

“The essence is about translating the Presidential Regulation on LBS, namely Lahan Baku Sawah (Standard Paddy Field Land). We know that the President also has another programme, the food self-sufficiency programme, and from this food self-sufficiency, the Minister of Agriculture expects that the existing land in each region has Standard Paddy Field Land,” Tito said in a written statement on Friday (19/6/2026).

Tito explained that Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 4 of 2026 on the Control of Paddy Field Land Conversion stipulates that 87 percent of sustainable food agricultural land is taken from Standard Paddy Field Land (LBS). Under this regulation, such land cannot be converted. However, in practice, several regions have already converted land into commercial or residential areas. According to him, this situation creates uncertainty for developers who have built housing but are then constrained by the 87 percent LBS provision.

“In this Joint Circular, we continue to support it, because this is the President’s order for food self-sufficiency. So, 87 percent is [of the total] Standard Paddy Field Land. Each region has Standard Paddy Field Land designated by the Minister of ATR/BPN, but it is not locked at the regency/city level; it is locked at the provincial level,” he detailed.

He elaborated that the 87 percent provision is calculated based on the LBS at the provincial level. Thus, governors can seek compensation through other areas that still have available land to maintain the total LBS area. This scheme is expected to provide certainty for regions and developers who have already built housing areas. The policy also provides certainty in the land certification process by the Ministry of ATR/BPN.

“This joint decision provides certainty and also a basis for certification. Without negating the food self-sufficiency programme, namely that sustainable agricultural land is 87 percent of the LBS or Standard Paddy Field Land at the provincial level,” he stated.

In closing, the Home Affairs Minister stressed the importance of supporting various presidential policies, including the food self-sufficiency programme and the provision of housing for the public. He also expressed appreciation to all parties who supported the signing, both regarding the SEB on strengthening sustainable spatial planning and the programme to accelerate the construction of 3 million homes.

“Our goal is that these two main pro-people programmes, namely food self-sufficiency in agriculture, continue to run, and the housing programme for low-income communities, a programme for people who do not own a house or whose house is unfit for habitation, both run well. This is the President’s policy that we must support,” he concluded.

The event was also attended by Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait, Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, as well as governors, regents, and mayors who participated virtually.