North Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized that the government is rehabilitating 98 thousand hectares of rice fields damaged by natural disasters in Sumatra to restore food production and farmers’ incomes.
“This is our responsibility as Minister of Agriculture and Head of the National Food Agency,” Amran said during an inspection in Pinto Makmur Village, North Aceh, on Thursday.
The government has officially launched post-disaster rehabilitation efforts in several parts of Sumatra, marked by a groundbreaking ceremony in North Aceh. The program covers damaged rice fields, irrigation networks, and other agricultural infrastructure to allow farmers to resume production as quickly as possible.
Amran said authorities moved swiftly after disasters struck the region in November 2025.
“As soon as we received reports, we mobilized our staff and partners to provide the best possible assistance for our brothers and sisters in Sumatra,” he said.
He added that donations totaling Rp75 billion, or about US$4.4 million, were collected from ministry employees, their families, and support from members of the House of Representatives.
“The president instructed us to deliver aid immediately and not wait for formal correspondence,” Amran said.
According to the ministry, total damage across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra reached 98,002 hectares. Light-to-moderate damage accounted for about 69,240 hectares, with Aceh suffering the most extensive damage at 54,233 hectares, followed by North Sumatra at 37,318 hectares and West Sumatra at 6,451 hectares.
Rehabilitation efforts will focus on light-to-moderate areas, targeting 13,708 hectares from January to February 2026: Aceh 6,530 hectares, North Sumatra 6,593 hectares, and West Sumatra 3,624 hectares.
The program will apply labor-intensive schemes, allowing farmers to earn income while working on their own land, with wages paid by the central government.
The Agriculture Ministry has also allocated Rp148.53 billion for rehabilitating moderately damaged areas and Rp310 billion for lightly damaged fields. Activities include land leveling, irrigation repairs, land preparation, and the distribution of seeds, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, and basic food assistance.
