Zulhas: Conversion of 'Permanent Rice Fields' Since 2010 to Face Fines

The government is preparing fines for those who have converted protected rice fields since 2010. This policy will be regulated in a Government Regulation and will apply retroactively. Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan stated that this step is taken to maintain national food security. “Starting from 2010. From 2010 until now,” said Zulhas when met at the Coordinating Ministry for Food office in Jakarta on Monday (30/3/2026). The government has recorded the conversion of rice fields from 2019 to 2025 reaching around 600,000 hectares. Data for the period 2010 to 2019 is still being calculated. “From 2019 to 2022, up to 2025, the rice fields that have already been converted to non-rice use total nearly 600,000 hectares,” Zulhas said. The draft Government Regulation on the fines is targeted to be completed soon. The government is preparing this regulation within the next 10 days. Zulhas explained that violators must replace the land according to the productivity level of the converted rice fields. For well-irrigated high-quality rice fields, the replacement is three times the amount. “If they use 10 hectares, then 30 (hectares) if the rice field is good,” said Zulhas. For medium-quality rice fields, the replacement obligation is two times. “If (the rice field quality) is medium, then 20, if there are 10 (hectares),” Zulhas stated. “After the Government Regulation Draft is completed, we will require all violations of rice field land conversions to be immediately replaced by the violators,” he said. The designation of permanent rice fields is also ongoing. The government has agreed on 2.7 million hectares of land in 12 provinces in the latest meeting. “Everything is done, just waiting for the determination by ATR (Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning). Hopefully, it can be determined soon,” said Zulhas.