Indonesia embarking on controversial project to cultivate rice on peat areas in Kalimantan

The aim is to increase food production amid fears of a looming global food crisis. PHOTO: PEXELS
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government is embarking on an ambitious but controversial plan to convert highly combustible peat areas, which are prone to the forest fires that cause haze, in Central Kalimantan to paddy fields.

The aim is to increase food production in the world's fourth-most populous nation of 270 million amid fears of a looming global food crisis.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.