Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said steep slopes would be replanted with crops such as coconut, coffee and avocado, which have stronger root systems and can better stabilize soil.
“We will replace horticultural crops on steep land with plantation crops. The budget is ready, we are waiting for proposals from the district head and the governor, and we will move quickly,” Sulaiman said during a visit to the landslide site in Cisarua, West Bandung District.
He said the changes were critical to prevent repeated landslides, particularly in areas with slopes ranging from 20 to 45 degrees.
“If this is not done, incidents like this will happen again. These areas are highly vulnerable,” he said.
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Sulaiman said land currently used for horticulture would be rezoned, as plantation crops have deeper roots that can bind soil and reduce erosion.
The plan aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to develop 870,000 hectares of national plantations, with priority given to disaster-prone regions, he added.
“We will coordinate with local governments on the required proposals. The budget under our management is substantial, as directed by the President,” Sulaiman said.
To protect farmers’ incomes during the transition, the government recommends an intercropping system, allowing horticultural crops to be planted temporarily between young plantation trees.
“After two to three years, once coffee begins producing, horticulture can be reduced and income replaced by coffee,” he said.
West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has said land conversion was one of the factors behind the deadly landslide in Pasirlangu Village, Cisarua Sub-district.
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“You can see plantations covered in plastic stretching up the slopes. That shows the contributing factors,” he said.
The landslide struck Pasirlangu Village early on Saturday, Jan. 24, after prolonged heavy rain destabilized soil and mud, burying homes.
As of Wednesday morning, 32 people remained missing, according to search and rescue authorities.
Rescue teams have recovered 48 bodies so far, which were handed over to the West Java police’s disaster victim identification unit.
Search operations are continuing amid difficult weather conditions, officials said.
Related news: West Java Police clarify "108 missing" figure after deadly landslide
Translator: Rubby Jovan, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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