Minister: Maintain Agriculture

All parties should keep the agriculture sector in a sustainable manner, since it is only the sector able to survive in the midst of crisis,

Banjarbaru, Kalsel 14/12 (AntaranewsKalsel) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman urged all parties to maintain agricultural sector, as it is an economic crutch for the nation and the state not even affected by the crisis.

"All parties should keep the agriculture sector in a sustainable manner, since it is only the sector able to survive in the midst of crisis," he said in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, Wednesday night.

The Minister of Agriculture was speaking when opening all-South Kalimantan food coordination meetings attended by a number of regents, government officials, and students of agriculture.

He said the agriculture sector that brought prosperity to the people in neighboring countries, mainly in Asia, such as Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Neighboring countries who are also experiencing four seasons can only carry out the harvest of agricultural products for four months while Indonesia in 12 months.

"Indonesia is the most fertile land and most extensive agricultural land. We are also able to harvest for 12 months, so that its potential should be utilized optimally," he said.

Given the potential, then there is no reason for Indonesia to import agricultural products, especially rice. The government adopted a policy to stop import.

"The potential of Indonesian agriculture is huge, so there is no reason to import even I'm sure if there was no Elnino Indonesia should have exported a large scale," he said.

The all-South Kalimantan food coordination meeting, he said, is expected to push agricultural production in the province thus supporting national food self-sufficiency program.

Governor Sahbirin Noor through the Head Agriculture Agency Fathurahman said South Kalimantan agriculture production was increasing here, namely rice, corn, and soybeans.

"Food production in South Kalimantan this year is predicted to reach a satisfactory result as rice rose 9.63 percent, corn 51 percent and soybean reached 113 percent," he said.

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