Banjarmasin harvests rice using new planting method

Banjarmasin, S Kalimatan (ANTARA) - Mayor of Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, H Ibnu Sina took part in a rice harvest which using a new planting method with local Siam Mayang rice type.
 
Ibnu Sina here on Saturday said that the rice harvest, which many people are interested in was in Tanjung Pagar Urban Village, South Banjarmasin Sub-district, today.
 
"The harvest yield is good," he said.
 
By using the new method of planting rice, he said, the harvest yielded 5.5 tons of harvested unhusked rice (GKP) per hectare.
 
"We support the development of this new method for farmers," he said.
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Why is that, said Ibnu Sina, because this big harvest is not only about farming yield, but is part of the city government's strategy to stabilize food prices. 
 
"Controlled inflation will have a positive impact not only on customers, but also on farmers. This rice harvest is one way for us to maintain that balance," he said.
 
Head of Banjarmasin City Food Security, Agriculture and Fisheries Office Yuliansyah Effendi expounded that the new method applied in planting is the jajar legowo 2:1 system.
 
According to him, this method has proven to be more efficient, because the spacing between row is arranged in such a way as to maximize sunlight and air circulation, so that plant can grow optimally.
 
"We will continue to provide education to farmers so that they want to try this method. If they succeed in planting twice a year, their production and income will automatically increase," said Yuliansyah.
 
The city is now promoting IP 2 or Planting Index 2 rice planting, a system that allows farmers to plant twice a year. 
 
"This is a proactive action by beginning IP 2 rice planting," he said.

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