Kotabaru harvests paddy to support food security

Kotabaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The district government of Kotabaru, South Kalimantan Province, has conducted a grand harvest of paddy fields under the People's Rice Field Printing (CSR) program to achieve sustainable food self-sufficiency in the "Earth of Saijaan" (nickname for Kotabaru).

Deputy Regent Syairi Mukhlis stated that the district government's commitment is to strengthening agricultural sector, particularly rice production as a strategic regional commodity in effort to achieve food self-sufficiency in Kotabaru.

"The regional government will continue to support improvement in agricultural sector, especially food production. The agricultural sector of course will be developed," he said in Kotabaru, Monday.

He promised to support rice field development program so that Kotabaru will become one of South Kalimantan's barn.

Read also: Anticipating El Nino, Kotabaru farmers sucessfully harvest rice
Read also: Kotabaru farmers joyfully welcome harvest season

This harvest, he said, displays the local government's seriousness in improving the quality of rice crops from various superior seeds varieties.

CSR not only in Pulau Laut Kotabaru, but will be opened evenly throughout the region, by mapping the potential of each area according to the condition of rice fields.

"Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah) this harvest yields around 4 to 4.5 tons per hectare. Hopefully this will increase food security in Kotabaru," he said.

Read also: Kotabaru farmers harvest corn during long dry season

Head of Food Security and Agriculture Office (DKPP) Sarawani said the grand harvest in Raw Paddy Land (LBS) in Teluk Masjid Village reached 54 hectares and People's Rice Field (CSR) program of the Ministry of Agriculture in 2025 in Teluk Mesjid Village is 41.85 hectares.

"Overall, Raw Paddy Land (LBS) in Pulau Laut Timur reaches 1,309 hectares," said Sarawani.

"And alhamdulilah dry milled grain (GKG) in Pulau Laut Timur has been absorbed by the state logistics agency Bulog for Kotabaru," he said.

From May harvest, Bulog has absorbed 57,955 kilograms of community harvest.