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| Farmland Conversion Can’t Be Arbitrary, Minister Nusron Warns Regional Leaders of Heavy Sanctions and Replacement Schemes. |
Bandung – The government has once again taken a firm stance on the conversion of rice fields. Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Head of the National Land Agency, Nusron Wahid, warned regional leaders in West Java not to take lightly the conversion of Sustainable Food Agricultural Land.
The warning was delivered during a coordination meeting with regional leaders from across West Java, held at Gedung Sate in Bandung on Thursday, December 18, 2025. At the meeting, Nusron подробно explained the rules on land replacement as well as the legal sanctions for those who violate them.
According to Nusron, regulations on Sustainable Food Agricultural Land are already very clear. Based on Law Number 41 of 2009 Article 44, land conversion is only allowed for National Strategic Projects and public interest purposes. Even then, replacement land is mandatory.
“Conversion of sustainable agricultural land cannot be done arbitrarily. It is only allowed for National Strategic Projects and public interests, and replacement land is still required,” Nusron said before the regional leaders.
He then detailed the replacement requirements that must be followed. For irrigated rice fields, replacement land must be provided at three times the original area. Not only the size, but the productivity of the replacement land must also be equivalent.
Meanwhile, reclaimed rice fields must be replaced by at least double the area. For non-irrigated rice fields, replacement is required on a one-to-one basis.
Equally important, the replacement land must not come from existing rice fields. Nusron stressed that the land must be newly created from non-rice-field land and must belong to the applicant, not the government.
“Applicants must find land that is not currently rice fields and then convert it into rice fields. Taking existing rice fields makes no sense,” he emphasized.
For parties that fail to meet these obligations, the government has prepared strict criminal sanctions. Nusron reminded that violations could lead to prison sentences of up to five years under Article 72 of Law Number 41 of 2009.
“These sanctions can apply to the applicant, the permit issuer, and even officials who allow the violation to happen, including regional heads,” Nusron said.
To support implementation on the ground, the government has provided three land replacement schemes. First, applicants may independently find and develop replacement land, which will then be verified by the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Second, applicants may provide the land, while the central or regional government handles the rice field development process, with all costs borne by the applicant. Third, if applicants face difficulties finding replacement land, they may choose to pay compensation for the land and development costs prepared by the government.
The coordination meeting was attended by the Director General of Spatial Planning, Suyus Windayana, senior officials from the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, and the Head of the West Java Regional Office of the National Land Agency along with staff. Also present were West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, all regional heads across West Java, the Director General of Forestry Planning, and representatives from several related ministries and institutions.
Through this meeting, the government hopes all regions share the same understanding. The ultimate goal is to preserve rice fields for national food security while still supporting development that truly benefits the public.
