Indonesia Urged to Implement Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Following Sumatra Floods

The Need for Structural Change

The recent devastating floods in Sumatra have brought to the forefront the urgent need for comprehensive agrarian reform and structural corrections in land ownership and management. Experts argue that the disaster is not just a natural phenomenon but a result of systemic issues including deforestation, unequal land distribution, and poor watershed management.

Key Components of Proposed Agrarian Reform

1. Land Redistribution: Allocate 2 hectares per family to address inequality
2. Ecological Restoration: Restore critical forest areas and promote sustainable land use
3. Legal Certainty: Provide clear land titles and resolve agrarian conflicts

Implementation Framework

The proposed Sumatra Agrarian Reform policy suggests a comprehensive approach:

• Upper watershed: Implement social forestry and ecological restoration
• Midstream areas: Conduct land redistribution using abandoned/expired concessions
• Downstream zones: Implement land consolidation programs

Legal Basis and Implementation

The reform is grounded in existing legal frameworks:

1. Article 33(3) of the 1945 Constitution
2. Basic Agrarian Law No. 5/1960

Implementation requires strong political will and inter-sectoral coordination.