Batulicin, S Kalimantan (Antaranews Kalsel) - The Government of Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, distributed agricultural machinery and tools (alsintan) to the joint farmers group (Gapoktan) to support grain production to realize food self-sufficiency programs in the "Bumi Bersujud" (the district's nickname).
Tanah Bumbu Regent H. Sudian Noor in Batulicin on Monday said alsintan distributed to gapoktan were 20 rotary type tractors, 30 water pumps, and 13 rice, corn, and soybean planting tools.
"The alsintan giving is to facilitate farmers in processing land during the first planting season of October-March (Okmar)," he said.
The Regent, who was accompanied by the Head of the Food Crops and Horticulture Division Robby Candra, added that entering the Okmar planting season farmers usually cultivated the land. With the help of the new Alsintan, they are expected to get the ease of cultivating land.
Meanwhile, the Tanah Bumbu Agriculture Agency followed it up with other assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture in the form of 47 four-wheeled tractors.
The target of planting rice in Okmar 2018/2019 is 24,514 hectares, it has already been realized by 10,940 hectares. While the realization of rice planting in Okmar 2017/2018 reached 21,669 hectares of 21,660 targeted. This means that there is a 101 percent increase in the target set.
"In increasing grain production, we also ask Bulog to be able to absorb rice production from farmers in Tanah Bumbu by adjusting the purchase price," he added.
At present the selling price of harvested unhulled rice from farmers in Tanah Bumbu by middlemen is around Rp.4,000/kg, while Bulog buys it at Rp3,700/kg.
