Indonesia introduces new farming system to boost rice yields

The PM-AAS (Modern Agriculture – Advanced Agriculture System), a modern farming system developed in Indonesia, is capable of increasing rice yields to 12.4 tonnes per hectare, thereby strengthening the country’s food security, said Indonesia’s Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman. His comments were reported by ANTARA.

He noted that the technology took nearly two years to develop and has undergone a series of successful field trials.

"After nearly two years of research and field trials, I am increasingly confident this method can significantly increase production. Our initial target is 10 tonnes per hectare, but field trials have already reached 12.4 tonnes," he said.

The system combines the Indonesian Jajar Legowo rice planting technique – in which rice is planted not in continuous rows but in groups of rows with an empty aisle left between them – with precision farming technology developed in China.

It is based on three key principles: optimising photosynthesis through special planting patterns of 4:1 (four planted rows, one empty) and 6:1 (six planted rows, one empty); increasing crop density through continuous planting; and the application of precision farming technologies, which make more efficient use of water, fertilisers and other resources.

According to the minister, the new technology makes it possible to increase the number of rice plants from the current 300–360 thousand to 800 thousand–1 million per hectare, which paves the way for a significant increase in yield. At the same time, expenditure on fertilisers and irrigation is reduced, and this cost saving, combined with increased production volumes, should boost farmers’ incomes.

The minister promised that the government would provide farmers with technical support to implement the system and assistance in purchasing seeds. Agricultural advisory specialists will lead the delivery of this support at a local level.

The Indonesian authorities expect that the introduction of the system will help ensure the country’s sustainable self-sufficiency in rice and create a surplus to support future exports. All of this will help to realise President Prabowo Subianto’s strategy to transform Indonesia into one of the world’s leading food producers.