Government Guarantees Farmers' Crop Yields after the Disaster

JAKARTA - The Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, said that the Ministry of Agriculture had prepared strategic steps to deal with post-disaster situations in the Sumatra region, especially related to the absorption of farmers' harvest.

The Minister of Home Affairs said there were concerns that the harvest would not be absorbed optimally due to disasters in three provinces, namely Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture took one step by buying agricultural products so that farmers would not lose.

"When the harvest, farmers can't be absorbed, for that the government buys it," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, December 29.

In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture together with the Ministry of Trade also ensures that the stock of basic necessities is sufficient in the three provinces affected by the disaster.

In addition, the government through the Ministry of Forestry continues to clean up the wood that was carried away by the flood.

"At the same time, we also monitor and evaluate approximately 24 forest management permits in the three provinces that were and KPH (Forest Management Unit)," he explained.

Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, ensured that the rapid handling of flooded rice fields in Aceh so that farmers could immediately replant, maintain regional food production, and restore the spirit of post-disaster farming in the area.

He conveyed this as a close coordination between the central and regional governments in accelerating agricultural recovery as well as improving damaged rice field infrastructure after the flood that hit the area.

"God willing, the agricultural sector, starting with the damaged rice fields, we will repair," said the Minister of Agriculture after receiving a visit from the Governor of Aceh, Muzakir Manaf, in Jakarta, Monday (22/12).

He expressed his appreciation for the regional synergy and ensured that improvements were not only in rice fields, but also in other commodities such as coffee, so that the economic recovery of farmers was comprehensive and long-term sustainable after the disaster.

To accelerate the realization, the Ministry of Agriculture has prepared a technical team that will go to the field starting January 2026, conducting data collection, physical repairs, and supporting replanting in a measurable and rapid manner.

"Starting January 2026, our team will go down to the field (in Aceh)," said Amran.

Based on preliminary data, the area of rice fields affected by the flood in Aceh reached around 89 thousand hectares, becoming the main focus of the recovery program so that the next planting season runs on time.

With a quick, collaborative, and planned step, the government is optimistic that the recovery of Aceh's rice fields will strengthen food security, maintain farmers' income, and restore community agricultural activities after the disaster.