Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono confirmed that the government is taking swift steps to restore agricultural land affected by floods and landslides in the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
He said the ministry is responsible for rehabilitating damaged farmland and ensuring the well-being of farmers. The government has prepared emergency response measures and recovery programs to help farmers resume production.
According to Sudaryono, the assistance includes providing recultivated land so farmers can return to planting and harvesting. He added that, under President Prabowo Subianto’s directive, various forms of support are being distributed to disaster-affected areas, including seeds, agricultural machinery, and People’s Business Credit (KUR) loans.
"This includes seeds, agricultural machinery, even KUR (People's Business Credit) loans, and others," he informed.
Sudaryono noted that severely damaged farmland remains the highest priority. Around 40,000 hectares of agricultural land were affected in the three provinces, with an estimated 4,500 to 5,000 hectares suffering crop failure. The ministry is assessing the impact, particularly on farmers who lost crops just before harvest.
Earlier, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman visited disaster-hit areas in Central Tapanuli District, North Sumatra, on December 3 to inspect affected rice fields and speak with farmers.
He said assistance will be adjusted according to the condition of the rice fields in each location, including for farmers whose crops failed due to flooding.
For land flattened by floodwaters, the government will rebuild the rice fields and distribute seeds and agricultural equipment. Moderately damaged land will receive support in the form of production infrastructure and machinery as needed.
"The government will take over the restoration of rice fields. We will send free equipment and seeds. We will restore them and plant until the handover to the land owners," Sulaiman remarked.
He emphasized that the government will take responsibility for restoring the rice fields, providing free equipment and seeds, and replanting until the land is ready to be handed back to the farmers.
His office is committed to ensuring that rehabilitation efforts support both farmland recovery and the sustainability of food production.
