Beyond Yield: The Quiet Revival of Indonesia’s Forgotten Rice Heritage

When the Green Revolution in Indonesia was announced by Soeharto in a ceremonial rice field in West Java in the late 1960s, it promised to double farmers’ harvests and make Indonesia strong. Farmers at the foot of Mount Lawu, whom I met when I still lived in Indonesia, recalled that government agents came to their villages with seeds, chemicals, and promises. Those who refused were labeled anti-progress or communist sympathizers—a dangerous, unwanted accusations in that era. This aggressive implementation forever changed Indonesia’s agricultural landscape and set the stage for both remarkable productivity gains and profound cultural losses.

IR8: Miracle Rice with Hidden Costs

Soeharto’s New Order idea to push Indonesian agricultural productivity didn’t come out of isolation. In the 1960s, a lot of regions in Asia stood on the brink of famine as populations boomed and traditional farming struggled to keep pace. Indonesia, having become the world’s largest rice importer at that time but also just went through a series of historical events, was particularly vulnerable to food security.  

Recognizing this crisis, researchers at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) embarked on an urgent mission to develop high-yielding rice varieties. Led by plant pathologist Dr. Peter Jennings, a team that consists of five researchers, crossed a high-yield rice variety from Indonesia called Peta with a dwarf variety named Dee-geo-woo-gen (DGWG) from Taiwan. This result was IR8—soon dubbed “miracle rice”—which produced unprecedented yields when grown with proper irrigationa, fertilizers, and pesticides.

Under the New Order BIMAS programme, Indonesian farmers received packages containing IR8 seeds along with the required chemicals and technical instructions. The transformation was dramatic. In 20 years, Indonesia’s rice production soared from 12 million to nearly 30 million tons per annum. Government celebrated this productivity revolution, but few or almost none acknowledged what was being lost in the process.

Indonesia’s Vanishing Rice Diversity

Indonesia’s geographical diversity—spanning thousands of islands from Sabang to Merauke with distinct microclimates, soil conditions, and cultural practices—has fostered extraordinary rice biodiversity. Researchers estimated that before the Green Revolution, farmers across the archipelago cultivated 8.000 rice varieties, each adapted to specific local conditions through centuries of careful natural selection.

This diversity served some critical functions beyond mere production. Professor Dwi Andreas Santosa, founder of the Indonesian Center for Biodiversity and Biotechnology (ICBB), explains that traditionally, farmers planted several varieties in a single rice field, with one farming community maintaining up to 40 different rice varieties. This practices created a genetic mosaic that limited pest and disease spread while providing insurance against environmental (extreme) changes.

The cultural significance of our rice diversity was equally profound. Specific rice varieties were integral to ceremonial life across Indonesia’s many ethnic group. In Bali, for ecample, particular beras merah or padi merah (red rice) types were required for prayers and temple activities. In Toraja, certain black varieties were essential for funeral rituals. Throughout Java, fragrant varieties marked important life celebrations from births to marriages. Each variety carried distinct flavors, textures, and aromas.

Seed Keepers: The Grassroot Preservation Movement

Despite these pressures, pockets of resistance emerged across Indonesia, with farmers, researchers, and cultural advocates working to preserve what remained of this agricultural heritage. Their efforts represent a growing recognition that diversity, rather than uniformity, may be the key to sustainable food systems.

Professor Santosa’s work exemplifies this approach. His research center maintains approximately 600 traditional rice varieties, methodically documenting their unique properties and genetic traits. Rather than rejecting modern agricultural science, Santosa and his team use advanced breeding techniques to develop new varieties that combine the resilience and adaptability of traditional rice with improved yield potential. One successful example is their “Mayas” rice, which delivers competitive yields while maintaining drought resistance and distinctive flavor characteristics.

In Yogyakarta, Kristamtini’s collection at the Food Crops Research Center goes beyond mere preservation. Her team conducts detailed analysis of nutritional profiles, identifying varieties with enhanced levels of iron, zinc, and antioxidants—characteristics often diluted in modern varieties bred exclusively for yield. Their research has revealed that certain black and red rice varieties contain up to three times the micronutrient content of common white rice, offering potential solutions to Indonesia’s ongoing nutritional challenges.

Helianti Hilman takes a market-based approach through her company Javara, founded in 2008. Starting with just five heirloom rice varieties from West Java, Javara now works with over 50,000 farmers across Indonesia to cultivate, process, and market more than 40 traditional rice varieties. By creating premium markets for these heirloom grains, Hilman has demonstrated that preservation can be economically viable. Her direct-to-consumer approach ensures farmers receive fair compensation for maintaining traditional methods, typically paying 30-40% above standard market rates.

At the community level, farmer-led initiatives like the Subak system in Bali integrate rice preservation with religious practice and tourism. In designated heritage fields, farmers maintain traditional varieties using ancient water management systems recognized by UNESCO as a Cultural Landscape. Part of their harvest supplies local temples for religious ceremonies, while tourism revenue helps offset the lower yields compared to modern varieties. Meanwhile at the foot of Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta, farmer Gunarto remains steadfast in his efforts to preserve local varieties that hold his childhood memories: beras sembada hitam (black rice) and beras sembada merah (red rice).

A Path Forward

Today, Indonesia stands at a crossroads. While the Soeharto’s Green Revolution significantly boosted production during his administration, its chemical dependency, climate vulnerability, and cultural erosion are evident. The preservation efforts at the grassroot level by farmers and researchers as previously mentioned demonstrate how tradition can walk along with innovation.

As global agriculture confronts climate change and biodiversity loss, Indonesia’s rice preservation movement offers crucial insights. By protecting genetic diversity and traditional knowledge, Indonesia isn’t solely preserving history but also building resilience for future generation.

Across Bali’s terraces, Java’s ancient plains, Sumatra’s valleys, and Toraja’s highlands, ancient rice varieits continue to grow in the hands of their guardians. Together, they illustrate that true agricultural progress means creating systems that sustain both people and our Earth through whatever challenges the future may bring.

© The Archipelago Eats