South Kalimantan targets 50 percent swampy land to be cultivated

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (Antaranews Kalsel) - The government of South Kalimantan targets, after the commemoration of World Food Day, 50 percent of the swampy land and tidal land in all districts and cities in the province to be cultivated to the maximum.


Head of Food Crops and Horticulture Agency Fathurrahman at a 2018 World Food Day (HPS) preparation press conference in Banjarmasin on Thursday said one of the focuses of HPS activities is to maximize the potential of tidal land and swampy land.

Currently, the potential for swamps and lowland is very large, but there are still many that have not been worked for productive activities.

Nationally there are around 30 million hectares of swamp and lowland, and most of them are still idle.

Especially in South Kalimantan, based on agricultural survey data, there are 186 thousand hectares of tidal land, and only 12 thousand hectares are used or around 6-7 percent.

Likewise, the swampy land, from 137 thousand hectares, is only about 2,000 hectares or not up to one percent is used for food crops.

Through HPS, the central, provincial and district governments will work together continuously to maximize this potential.

"After the HPS, the central government will continue to provide guidance and cooperation to increase land use, especially in the Jejangkit area (the place of World Food Day commemoration)," he said.