Pelaihari, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that South Kalimantan must be able to increase planting index (IP) to three times a year (IP 300) to strengthen national food security.
“We cannot be half-hearted in increasing food production. Other countries are experiencing rice-crisis, we must be ready," said Sulaiman, when attenting rice harvest at the location of land optimization (Oplah) in Maluka Baulin Village, Tanah Laut District, South Kalimantan, Tuesday.
He believes, with the potential it has if South Kalimantan can increase planting to three times, then it can be the national food barn.
The province is currently has paddy field area of 340,000 hectares that produces 1.7 million tons rice.
If planting intensity is increased to three times a year, he said, its production could jump to 4-5 million tons.
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“This is what we pursue! We are ready for land optimization, irrigation improvement, fertilizer distribution, and agricultural modernization so that this target can be achieved,” the Agriculture Minister pointed out in front of thousands of farmers and stakeholders.
Tanah Laut District and Barito Kuala District, he expounded, will be the main priority in increasing rice production.
The minister asked the local regent to immediately coordinate and execute the program quickly.
“We are preparing full assistance, but execution must be fast. There must be no idle land,” he said.
In addition, the minister emphasized that rice field planting will continue and will be accelerated.
The government will also stengthen agricultural modernization by didstributing agricultural machinery assistance (alsintan) in large quantities and improving irrigation system as the main key to the success of increasing production.
“Tanah Laut and Barito Kuala will be our serious attention. With full support of the regent, Dandim (district military commander), and Kapolres (police chief), I am sure that agricultural production and productivity in South Kalimantan can increase rapidly,” said the minister.
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