Banjarbaru first harvests baroma rice

Banjarbaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Membangun Farmers Group in Guntung Manggis Urban Village has successfully first harvested the Baroma rice variety. It is expected to increase productivity as well as farmers income in the city.

"The baroma rice first harvest cannot be separated from collaboration with agriculture counselor and observer as well as the support of DKP3 and PT Pupuk Kaltim," said acting Head of Banjarbaru Food Security, Agriculture, and Fishery Agency (DKP3) Nor Fadillah, Wednesday. 

Baroma is one of the varieties of rice seeds that many farmers are looking for today because it has the characteristics and fragrant of rice similar to that of basmati from Pakistan.

He said farmers together with the agency and related parties have made an area demonstration for the baroma variety of rice on a hectare of land owned by Nuryamin, one of the farmers group members.

The result of sampling on ubinan scales (size per hectare) was 5.3 kg and if converted the productivity becomes 8.4 tons/hectare of dry harvested rice and is relatively high compared to the average yield in Banjarbaru.

"We faced quite a lot obstacles, including pest control which was a priority, namely rats and birds as well as diseases, so we had to be vigilant," he said. 

Farmers hopes that the agricultural area of 65 hectares in Landasan Ulin as well as the city rice planting area of about 1,500 hectares could implement rice cultivation twice a year.

"We hope that all farmers will continue to be exist, even though the cultivation area (in the city) is relatively small but their products are superior to Banjarbaru with high productivity," said Fadil.

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