By: Apriliani Gustiana, Junior Expert Statistician, BPS (Statistics Indonesia) – NTT Province
Every year, September 24th is commemorated as National Farmers' Day. However, this celebration should not merely be an annual ceremonial event; instead, it should be viewed much like the turn of the year—a time synonymous with reflection and personal resolution.
Farmers' Day offers an opportune moment to pause and reflect on our agricultural report card, allowing us to gauge the extent of progress made in the agricultural sector of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.
Undeniably, the agricultural sector remains the lifeblood of the economy and the livelihoods of the people of NTT Province. It stands as the largest sector and the primary driver of the province's economy.
In 2025, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) recorded that the agricultural sector made the largest contribution to NTT Province's Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) at Current Prices, accounting for 28.58 percent. Furthermore, the sector serves as the livelihood source for 43.77 percent of the employed population in NTT Province. Yet, upon closer inspection, the state of agriculture in NTT Province in 2025 reveals a paradox: while there have been notable successes, fundamental issues persist that require ongoing attention and improvement.
A key highlight of 2025 is the significant surge in rice production. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) recorded a sharp 53.06 percent surge in rice production in NTT, reaching 1,083 tons of milled dry unhusked rice (GKG) from a harvested area of 212,000 hectares and a productivity rate of 51.08 quintals per hectare. This achievement is undoubtedly linked to the intensive implementation of extensification programs—expanding rice planting areas—aimed at supporting food self-sufficiency.
However, has this remarkable achievement been sufficient to meet the rice consumption needs of the people of NTT?
Unfortunately, NTT has not yet achieved rice self-sufficiency as of 2025. With total rice production reaching 567,178 tons, there remains a deficit of 96,614 tons against a consumption requirement of 663,792 tons. This deficit is significant, given NTT's relatively limited rice production capacity. This situation directly impacts rice trade patterns in the region, forcing the local government to source rice from outside the area to cover the shortfall.
This situation highlights that NTT cannot rely solely on rice. We must also consider the potential of other commodities suited to the region's climate and soil conditions, such as maize. Maize is a secondary food crop widely cultivated in NTT Province.
Over the past five years, maize productivity in NTT has shown an upward trend, with an average annual growth rate of 2.30 percent. In 2025, maize production in NTT reached 413,033 tons of dried kernels, harvested from an area of 114,516 hectares with an average productivity of 26.66 quintals per hectare.
Interesting developments are also taking place in the horticulture sub-sector. According to 2025 BPS data, the production of biopharmaceutical crops—specifically turmeric—in NTT surpassed 3 million kilograms, doubling the output recorded in 2024. In contrast, the fruit sector presents a cause for concern. Banana production, which has been the leading fruit commodity in NTT over the past five years, experienced a drastic decline of 36.71 percent. Such extreme fluctuations in horticultural commodities signal a need for more serious attention.
Despite the ongoing dynamics and fluctuations within the food crop and horticulture subsectors, we must not overlook another key pillar of the regional economy. BPS data indicates that livestock farming is a mainstay of NTT’s agricultural sector, contributing 10.29 percent to the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP). This is evidenced by the fact that East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is a major hub for pig farming in Indonesia, boasting the nation's highest pig population in 2025 at 1,083,286 head.
Furthermore, NTT ranks second among Indonesian provinces for its horse population, with half of these animals located on Sumba Island. The greatest challenge facing the livestock sector moving forward lies not in the number of animals, but in mindset. A paradigm shift is required—moving away from viewing livestock merely as traditional savings or a matter of customary practice (such as *belis* or bride price) toward seeing it as a competitive commercial livestock industry. This transition will inevitably require infrastructure support, ranging from standardized slaughterhouses to efficient meat supply chains.
To answer this, we can look at the Farmers' Terms of Trade (NTP)—a key indicator of farmer welfare. Essentially, the NTP is the ratio between the price index of goods sold by farmers (their harvest yields) and the price index of goods purchased by them (for household consumption and production costs). Simply put, an NTP above 100 indicates a surplus—meaning farmers' purchasing power has strengthened because income from harvests is growing faster than their expenses. Conversely, a figure below 100 indicates a deficit.
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) recorded an NTP of 100.80 percent for East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province in 2025, signifying a surplus—meaning harvest income grew faster than farmers' expenses in the province. This figure marks a turning point for NTT after it had experienced a deficit trend since 2021. While farmers' purchasing power is strengthening, there is no room for complacency; compared to other Indonesian provinces, the welfare of NTT farmers remains relatively low.
In 2025, NTT Province’s NTP ranked fifth lowest, trailing only West Papua, Central Papua, Maluku, and Highland Papua provinces.
On this National Farmers' Day, our hope is for the agricultural sector in NTT to flourish, bringing greater prosperity to its farmers. After all, farmers are the backbone of NTT’s economy and the nation's food security. Through their labor, the land is transformed into a fertile source of life, sustaining millions of families.
Happy National Farmers' Day 2026; thank you for every drop of sweat that sustains this nation. (*)
