An aerial view shows a farmer (C) working with rice seedlings at a paddy field in Lhoknga, Indonesia's Aceh province on May 19, 2025. Rice yields per hectare have tripled, from approximately 1.8 tonnes in the 1960s to 5.92 tonnes today. - AFP
JAKARTA: In the context of rising global food insecurity and climate uncertainty, it may seem counterintuitive to suggest that Indonesia, home to over 280 million people, does not need more farmers.
However, this is precisely what the data tells us. The country’s food production trajectory, particularly in rice, has significantly improved despite a dramatic decline in the agricultural labour force.
