Tanah Laut designated as national corn granary

Pelaihari, South Kalimantan 18/3 (AntaranewsKalsel) - Regent Tanah Laut Bambang Alamsyah declared the central government set the district as the national maize granary for its success in improving corn production.

"Tanah Laut maize production ranks first in South Kalimantan, because 60 percent of the corn coming from here," said Regent Bambang Alamsyah in Pelaihari, Saturday.

According to him, the plant extent and production from year to year is increasing. So is production per hectare from 6 tons to 8 tons.

In an effort to increase the acreage of maize, he said, the district government has provided guidance, seeds, fertilizer aid, assistance in tools and agriculture machinery.

Separately, Head of Horticulture Food Crops and Plantation Agency Ahmad Mustahdi revealed South Kalimantan corn production in 2016 amounted to 198 thousand tons. Of that production, Tanah Laut contributed 115 thousand tons of corn.

Besides having a high production, in terms of marketing farmers in Tanah Laut has no trouble, because there are two animal feed factories stand in the area.

"We expect a corn farmer in the Tanah Laut continues to increase acreage and production, as we keep help with seeds, fertilizers, tools and agriculture machinery," he said.