Jakarta (ANTARA) - Modernization in the agriculture sector can reduce production costs by up to 70 percent, increase efficiency, and speed up the cultivation process, all of which support national food security, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said.
He made these remarks during a visit in Gowa, South Sulawesi, according to a statement from the ministry released on Sunday.
Sulaiman explained that the ministry has implemented a water-pumping program aimed at increasing water availability in key rice-producing provinces, including South Sulawesi.
He noted that South Sulawesi is the fourth-largest rice producer in the country, with over 106,000 hectares of paddy fields. Gowa district is the province's most significant rice-producing region.
Basri, a local farmer, shared that the modern machinery and pumps provided by the government have helped him and other farmers boost rice production.
"Before the pumping program, we could only harvest once a year. Now, we can harvest twice," he said.
This year, the Ministry of Agriculture has distributed regular assistance worth Rp365.32 billion (US$22 million) to the province, along with additional aid in the form of subsidized fertilizers (Rp4.8 trillion) and seeds (Rp82.89 billion).
The ministry has also provided pumps, sprayers, and tractors to support the province's agricultural efforts.
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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
