Indonesian Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian inspected rice fields in Aceh province that have been submerged in mud due to recent flooding, as the government assesses potential impacts to regional rice production. Approximately 1,500 hectares of rice fields in Meurah Dua District, Pidie Jaya Regency, have been severely damaged by the heavy mud.
Aceh Rice Fields Damaged by Flooding
Tito Karnavian, who also heads the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction for the Sumatra Region, reported that the mud in some areas is between fifty centimeters and one meter thick. Thousands of additional hectares have sustained mild to moderate damage.
Pidie Jaya Regency is a significant agricultural area, encompassing approximately 8,800 hectares of farmland. Damage to these lands could reduce rice production if rehabilitation efforts are not swift, according to Tito.
“This is a great shame for the people, and our rice production could also be reduced,” Tito said in a statement on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Tito has urged the Ministry of Agriculture to address the situation immediately, emphasizing the importance of accelerating land rehabilitation to allow farmers to replant.
“Hopefully, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Amran Sulaiman, will immediately address the condition of the land so it can be productive again,” he said.
The Ministry of Agriculture has allocated Rp336 billion (approximately $21.6 million USD) to rehabilitate flood-affected rice fields in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. The funds will be used to restore lightly to moderately damaged rice fields and maintain regional food supplies, according to Hermanto, Director General of Agricultural Land and Irrigation at the Ministry of Agriculture.
The rehabilitation program began on January 15, 2026.
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