By Faridat Salifu
Indonesia is turning to upland rice as a climate-resilient farming system to strengthen national food security amid increasingly dry conditions.
The initiative is being led by the Faculty of Agriculture of IPB University, which has developed and implemented upland rice systems across several regions, including Pati, Gunungkidul, Bogor, Murung Raya, and Berau.
The programme applies integrated agricultural technologies designed to boost productivity on dry land.
These technologies include the use of the IPB 9G superior rice variety, drought- and pest-resistant microbial inputs, automated weather monitoring through an automatic weather station, and optimized fertilization practices.
Field results from the project showed upland rice yields ranging between 3.5 and 5 tonnes of harvested dry unhusked rice per hectare.
Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at IPB University, Prof Suryo Wiyono, said upland rice is becoming increasingly important as climate change drives drier conditions across Indonesia.
Wiyono noted that upland rice currently contributes about five percent of national rice production but should be scaled up to 15 percent to improve food security.
He added that the university will continue to expand upland rice development through technology dissemination and socio-economic research.
Farmers participating in the programme reported improved yields and growing interest in upland rice cultivation.
An upland rice farmer in Ronggo Village, Pati Regency, Sudargo, said the introduction of IPB 9G rice and drought-resistant technology has made upland rice competitive with other dryland crops.
Professor of Agronomy at IPB University, Prof Suwarto, said upland rice offers a sustainable alternative as millions of hectares of dry land remain available while rice field conversion continues at a rapid pace.
The initiative is expected to support expanded dryland utilization and provide a long-term solution to Indonesia’s food security challenges.