Agroecological Nutrient Management Strategy for Attaining Sustainable Rice Self-Sufficiency in Indonesia

Winda Ika Susanti (), Sri Noor Cholidah and Fahmuddin Agus
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Winda Ika Susanti: J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
Sri Noor Cholidah: World Resources Institute (WRI Indonesia), Jl. Wijaya I No. 63, Petogogan-Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Jakarta 12170, Indonesia
Fahmuddin Agus: National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong 16911, Indonesia

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 2, 1-29

Abstract: Rice self-sufficiency is central to Indonesia’s agricultural development, but the country is increasingly challenged by population growth, climate change, and arable land scarcity. Agroecological nutrient management offers solutions though optimized fertilization, enhanced organic matter and biofertilizer utilizations, and improved farming systems and water management. Besides providing enough nutrients for crops, the agroecological approach also enhances resilience to climate change, reduces the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions, and improves the biological functions of rice soil. Organic and bio fertilizers can reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. For example, blue-green algae may contribute 30–40 kg N ha −1 , while the application of phosphate solubilizing microbes can reduce the use of chemical phosphorous fertilizers by up to 50 percent. The country currently experiences substantial yield gaps of about 37 percent in irrigated and 48 percent in rain-fed rice. Achieving self-sufficiency requires that Indonesia accelerates annual yield growth through agroecological nutrient management from a historical 40 kg ha −1 year −1 to 74 kg ha −1 year −1 . The aim is to raise the average yield from the current 5.2 t ha −1 year −1 to 7.3 t ha −1 year −1 by 2050. Simultaneously, controlling paddy field conversion to a maximum of 30,000 hectares per year is crucial. This strategic approach anticipates Indonesia’s milled rice production to reach around 40 million metric tonnes (Mt) by 2050, with an expected surplus of about 4 Mt.

Keywords: agroecology; biochar; biofertilizers; climate change; greenhouse gases; inorganic fertilizers; nutrient management; organic matter; paddy field conversion; rice self-sufficiency; stonemeal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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