PALMOILMAGAZINE, TANJUNG SELOR – Bulungan Regent, Syarwani, has enforced a ban on smallholders in the region from converting rice fields into palm oil plantations. This policy is aimed at safeguarding local food security and ensuring the availability of productive land for essential food crops like rice.
Syarwani explained that the conversion of agricultural land into palm oil plantations could have serious economic repercussions for smallholders and threaten local food supplies. “Fertile agricultural land is vital in supporting food production to meet the community’s needs. If converted, food availability could be jeopardized,” he said, as quoted from Radar Tarakan by Palmoilmagazine.com, Friday (March 28, 2025).
He emphasized that maintaining rice fields as food production areas is a strategic step toward ensuring long-term food security. Additionally, the policy aims to preserve ecosystem balance and reduce the region’s reliance on food imports.
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Syarwani hopes that smallholders will understand the importance of sustaining the agricultural sector. “By preserving rice fields, we not only meet the food needs of the community but also protect the environment in a sustainable manner,” he added.
This policy aligns with the local government’s efforts to boost food self-sufficiency and mitigate the negative impact of palm oil plantation expansion on productive agricultural land. The government also plans to provide support and incentives to smallholders who continue to focus on food production to support regional food security.
The decision has received support from various environmental and agricultural sector observers, who believe that the conversion of agricultural land should be regulated to avoid disrupting national food production.
Through this policy, the Bulungan Regent aims to ensure that the local agricultural sector thrives, benefits smallholders, and guarantees the continued food security of the community in the future. (P2)
