Banjarmasin, S Kalimatan (ANTARA) - The South Kalimantan Agriculture and Food Security Office (DPKP) recorded that rice production had reched 641,000 tons by August 2025, with a projection of 1.2 million tons at the end of year.
Head of the office Syamsir Rahman said that the achievement showed the provincial governments seriousness in strengthening food security.
“In 2024 our rice production had reched 1.029 million tons. Until August 2025, we have reched 641,000 tons. We are optimistic the production will reach 1.2 million tons this year,” he said, when confirmed here on Tuesday.
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South Kalimantan, he pointed out, is the most committed province to rice production and rice paddy printing in Kalimantan region, it consistently supplying rice to Central and East Kalimantan.
Meanwhile, the central government has allocated 30,000 hectares for rice fields printing program for the province. So far, more than 14,000 hectares have entered the contruction stage while the reminder in contracting process.
South Kalimantan government applying a no-down payment policy in the implementation of rice field printing project, to avoid manipulative practice and ensure the quality of work.
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“No down payment in South Kalimantan. If you have no equipment, there is no work. This is our policy to maintain quality wile eliminating opportunities for project mafia,” he said.
Syamsir had also accompanied House of Representative's Commission IV in their special working visit to the Banjarbaru Swampland Agricultural Assembly and Testing Center (BRMP).
He hopes that Commission IV would support budget allocation for floating rice innovation as a sustainable solution to rice production during the flood season.
The commission led by Major General (Ret.) Sturman Panjaitan highlighted South Kalimantan's strategic role as a center for innovation in swampland agrriculture and a national provider of superior seeds.
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One of the innovation that caught their attention was the development of floating rice as an agricultural solution during flooding. Floating rice is said to be capable of producing up to 10 tons per hectare.
Sturman Panjaitan appreciated the achievement of south Kalimantan in agriculture, especially swampland which he considered very potential for strengthening national food sovereignty.
He was committed to strive for budget support for South Kalimantan's agriculture, even though the province does not yet have a representative on Commission IV of the House.
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