Marabahan, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman visited the location of the Serasi (Save Swamp to Welfare Farmers) program in Kolam Kiri Dalam Village, Barambai Sub-district, Barito Kuala, South Kalimantan, Saturday (25/5).
The minister was accompanied by the Director General of Agriculture Infrastructure (Dirjen PSP) Sarwo Edhy, Director of Land Indah Megawati and Deputy Territorial Assistant Army Chief of Staff (Waaster Kasad) TNI Brigjen Steve P, Commander 101 Antasari Military Command Kol Inf M Syech Ismed and a number of the ministry officials and staff.
They were received by Deputy Regent of Batola H Rahmadian Noor, Commander of the 1005 Marabahan Military Command Lt. Col. Kav Sugianto along with ranks, all South Kalimantan district military commanders, a number of related officials of provincial and the district.
Prior to the dialogue with farmers, Minister Amran Sulaiman reviewed the cultivated areas of water management such as channel normalization, making a channel for connectivity, making micro (quaternary) channels, culverts, sluice gates and pumps in the village of Kolam Kiri Dalam.
On the way to the location, the minister also stopped by at the Serasi program area in Tumih Village, Wanaraya Sub-district.
The minister expects that agricultural equipment such as excavators should not be scattered in processing construction areas, so cultivation can be faster.
The minister said, currently the Indonesian people, especially farmers, develop agriculture, because the population increase is 1.4 percent per year or 3 million more people with the birth of 8.5 thousand per day.
To anticipate that, he said, food readiness is needed for the intended population growth.
According to the plan, 2045 Indonesia becomes the world's food barn and at that time Indonesia could feed its population to 1 billion and its support is in South Kalimantan.
Therefore, the minister said, land processing was carried out in South Kalimantan by directing agricultural equipment such as excavators with a total of 77 units in the hope that all land would be cultivated and no more neglected.
