Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Agriculture allocated Rp1.49 trillion (around US$88.3 million) from the 2026 State Budget and proposed an additional Rp5.1 trillion to accelerate agricultural recovery in disaster-hit provinces in Sumatra.During a meeting with Commission IV of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on Wednesday, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized that his ministry is moving quickly to restore the agricultural sector.
The Rp1.49 trillion currently available will be used to restore irrigation systems and rice fields, provide seed assistance, rehabilitate plantation crops, and supply agricultural machinery, fertilizers, and pesticides.
The assistance, he said, is prioritized for the most affected areas, specifically rice fields that have sustained light to moderate damage. For rice fields with severe damage, the minister emphasized the need for cross-ministerial synergy, including with the Ministry of Public Works.
In addition to optimizing the current budget, the Ministry of Agriculture estimates that an additional Rp5.1 trillion in funding will be required to comprehensively restore the agricultural sector across the affected provinces—Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
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Most of the Rp5.1 trillion additional budget, namely Rp3.4 trillion, will be used for the rehabilitation of rice fields.
The allocation also includes Rp456.4 billion for plantation area rehabilitation, Rp19.1 billion for horticultural seed assistance, Rp262.8 billion for livestock feed, Rp674.7 billion for facilities and infrastructure, and Rp291 billion for the rehabilitation of buildings and other supporting facilities.
To this end, Minister Sulaiman asked for support from Commission IV for the additional budget so that the post-disaster recovery in the agricultural sector can be accelerated.
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Devastating floods and landslides struck the three provinces of Sumatra in late November 2025 following high-intensity rainfall. According to data as of January 13, 2026, the total area of affected rice fields across the three provinces reached 107,324 hectares, comprising 56,077 hectares with light damage, 22,152 hectares with moderate damage, and 29,095 hectares with severe damage.
Following the disasters, approximately 44,600 hectares of rice and corn fields experienced crop failure. Additionally, 29,310 hectares of non-palm oil plantation areas, including coffee, cocoa, and coconut, were affected. Damage to horticultural land reached 1,803 hectares, while the number of livestock reported dead or missing has exceeded 820,000.
