Jakarta – The extreme heat wave that has hit several regions in Indonesia is now not only affecting agricultural productivity, but also threatening the lives of farmers, according to the People’s Coalition for Food Sovereignty (KRKP). In its latest report, KRKP noted that a number of farmers have reportedly died from heatstroke while working in the fields.
“Throughout 2023, more than six farmers died in the fields or on their way home from the fields because they could not withstand the extreme temperatures. We found most of the cases in Klaten,” said KRKP Coordinator Ayip Said Abdullah during a discussion on Rice Price Controversy and Food Policy Amidst the Climate Crisis on Tuesday, September 16.
According to Ayip, the victims who died were not only elderly people. Some were even in their 30s. “They were still young. They may have had underlying health conditions, but the extreme heat triggered their strokes. This climate crisis is clearly threatening the safety of farmers,” he said.
To survive the increasingly scorching temperatures, farmers are now changing their work patterns. They leave for the fields earlier, between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m., and return home before the sun gets too hot around 10:00 a.m. Some are even resorting to extreme measures.
“There are farmers who always wear jackets to the fields, then carry a kilogram of ice in plastic and stick it to their backs. They do this so they can continue working, because the heat is unbearable,” Ayip explained.
KRKP believes that the government is still ignoring the health impacts of climate change. “They don’t care at all. There isn’t even any data on farmers who are sick or have died due to climate change. This is a reality that must be faced and responded to seriously,” criticised Ayip.
A similar warning was also issued by the Executive Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios), Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara. He emphasised that the case of farmers dying due to extreme heat was not just a rumour.
“There may be comorbidities, but extreme weather clearly increases the risk of heat stroke. This is different from people who work in air-conditioned rooms. Exposure to heat in the field is a real threat,” he said.
In addition to posing health risks, the climate crisis also increases economic losses. Data from the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) shows that between 2020 and 2024, the agricultural sector will suffer losses of up to Rp78 trillion due to the impact of climate change, including tidal flooding that often hits the North Coast of Java.
Bhima added that if the trend of the climate crisis continues, Indonesia’s food security will be increasingly threatened.
“According to a report by the World Food Programme (WFP), by 2050, food crop production, especially rice, could fall by 20 per cent. The implication is clear: food imports will increase,” he said.
KRKP said that this report serves as a wake-up call for the government to immediately formulate policies to protect farmers from the threat of extreme weather. Without concrete action, not only will food security be threatened, but also the lives of farmers, as the frontline providers of national food supplies. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E via ChatGPT (2025)
