Bali rice fields shrink by over 10,000 hectares in less than a decade

Denpasar — Bali’s irrigated rice-field area has shrunk by around 10,548 hectares in less than a decade, dropping from about 78,626 hectares in 2017 to roughly 68,078 hectares in recent years, according to student representatives citing data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) during a meeting with Governor Wayan Koster in Denpasar on 27 August 2026.

The figures were raised by the executive body of the Faculty of Agriculture at Udayana University (BEM Pertanian Unud) in an audience with Koster at the Jaya Sabha official residence, where they highlighted both land conversion and a weakening interest in farming among younger Balinese.

BEM representatives said the decline in rice fields threatens Bali’s food security and the sustainability of the traditional subak irrigation system, which underpins the island’s landscape and water-sharing practices.

Where the losses are concentrated

According to the student delegation, based on BPS Bali data, pressure on rice fields is strongest in regencies at the centre of tourism growth, including Badung, Denpasar, Gianyar and Tabanan.

The 2017 baseline of about 78,626 hectares matches earlier provincial data on total rice-field area, when officials were already warning about rising conversion of agricultural land to non-farm uses.

BEM Pertanian Unud chair Made Ariel Ardhiana told local media that farmer regeneration requires urgent attention, arguing that many young people are increasingly reluctant to take up farming careers.

Reported figures and trends

The student group said BPS Bali data show rice-field area falling from around 78,626 hectares in 2017 to about 68,078 hectares in the latest readings, implying a reduction of roughly 10,548 hectares.

Separate figures from the Bali office of the National Land Agency (BPN) indicate that between 2019 and 2024 alone, Bali lost about 6,521.81 hectares of rice fields, dropping from 70,995.87 hectares to 64,474 hectares, a cumulative decline of 9.19 percent.

Provincial officials and researchers have warned that if current conversion trends continue, Bali could see large portions of its remaining rice fields disappear within a few decades.

Government measures and legal pressure

Governor Koster told the audience he is committed to controlling the conversion of productive agricultural land and maintaining regional food self-sufficiency, pointing to new and existing regulations.

The province has issued Regional Regulation No. 4 of 2026 on controlling the conversion of productive agricultural land and banning nominee land ownership, a rule that Udayana University agriculture professor Dewa Ngurah Suprapta has urged authorities to enforce strictly.

The Bali government has also enacted Governor Regulation No. 99 of 2018, which encourages tourism businesses and other sectors to prioritise purchasing local agricultural products.

To further limit conversion, the province introduced Governor Instruction No. 5 of 2025 on preventing the shift of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses, complementing earlier regulations on subak and rural planning.

Despite these measures, BPN Bali data and local environmental advocates report that conversion continues, with estimates in recent years suggesting annual losses on the order of 1,000–2,000 hectares of rice fields.

Debate over enforcement and future of subak

Members of the provincial legislature and civil society groups have called for stronger enforcement of existing rules and revisions to regulations governing subak irrigation associations and customary villages, arguing that legal protections have not kept pace with market pressures from tourism and property development.

Observers say the gap between formal protections and continuing land conversion has become a central issue in debates over farmer livelihoods, generational renewal and the long-term survival of the subak system.

Sources

• Buser Bhayangkara TV - Lahan Sawah Bali Susut 10.548 Hektare dalam 9 Tahun: Alih Fungsi & Krisis Regenerasi Petani Jadi Sorotan Mendesak
• RRI Denpasar - BEM Pertanian Unud Soroti Alih Fungsi Lahan dan Regenerasi Petani
• Balipost - Terancam Alih Fungsi, DPRD Bali Dorong Kenaikan BKK
• IDN Times Bali - Alih Fungsi Lahan Sawah Bali Peringkat 9 Nasional, Produksi Padi Turun
• Warta Bali Online - Ketika Subak Dianaktirikan, Alih Fungsi Lahan Mengancam
• detikBali - 6.521 Ha Sawah di Bali Lenyap dalam Enam Tahun Terakhir
• Tourism Egaspe - Transformasi Regulasi Subak: Urgensi Revisi Perda Bali dalam Menahan Laju Defisit Lahan Pertanian
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• NusaBali - Subak Terancam Alih Fungsi, DPRD Bali Dorong Peningkatan Bantuan dan Revisi Perda