Task Force PRR Rehabilitates Thousands of Hectares of Flood-Affected Rice Fields

Protection of agricultural land in the region has become the government’s focus. Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) following the Sumatra disaster continues to expedite the rehabilitation of damaged rice fields resulting from hydrometeorological disasters in Aceh Province, North Sumatra (Sumut), and West Sumatra (Sumbar). According to a statement from the PRR Task Force, this acceleration is carried out through a land revitalisation scheme accompanied by land protection to prevent changes in function, ensuring the sustainability of rice supplies and regional food security, while also speeding up the recovery of farmers’ lives. Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that his ministry has conducted data collection and inventory of affected agricultural land, while ensuring that the area of productive land remains maintained despite damage from disasters. “Protection of agricultural land in that region has become the government’s focus. We have held meetings, we have emphasised that land function changes are not allowed, period. And this is already regulated by law, so there should be no more violations,” said Amran during a visit to the Bulog warehouse in Karawang on Thursday (23/4). While conducting data collection on damaged land, the government is also providing agricultural assistance in parallel, in the form of seeds and superior seedlings. This is done to ensure that farmers can immediately resume planting after the disaster. “Everyone affected, the government provides assistance, including in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. All damaged rice fields are covered by the government,” said Amran. Based on PRR Task Force data as of 24 April 2026, out of a total of 42,702 hectares of rice fields targeted for rehabilitation in the three affected provinces, 2,045 hectares of land have been rehabilitated and 12,126 hectares are still in the handling process. Chairman of the PRR Task Force Post-Sumatra Disaster, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, stated that rice field rehabilitation does not only focus on physical recovery of the land but also includes strengthening legal aspects through updating land data. According to him, this step is important so that the land that becomes productive again has legal certainty and can be optimally utilised by the community. “Because BPN is under the Minister of ATR/BPN (Nusron Wahid), there may need to be instructions to the ranks to be proactive in working with local governments to resolve land issues, land boundaries, as well as helping with lost certificates,” said Tito after the Coordination Meeting of the PRR Task Force Directing Team in Jakarta on Monday (6/4). He added that local governments are asked to actively coordinate with the local ATR/BPN Regional Office in the process of re-registering residents’ land. If obstacles are encountered, the central government will intervene to ensure all processes run quickly and accurately.