Agriculture Minister 14 Companies To Help In Cultivating 500,000 Hectares Of Rice

Friday, 08 Nov 2024

By ferry@insightinnews.com The Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, has unveiled an ambitious initiative to cultivate 500,000 hectares of rice fields in the picturesque region of South Kalimantan. He emphasized the remarkable potential of this land to significantly contribute to Indonesia's food security. "We have meticulously mapped out the terrain for the establishment of 500,000 hectares of rice fields. Achieving this goal will undoubtedly fortify our food supply," Amran declared during the 'Coordination Meeting for the People's Rice Field Program' held in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Monday, November 4, 2024. He noted that this extensive target will be approached in a phased manner. In the initial phase, the Ministry of Agriculture will embark on the development of 152,291 hectares of rice fields across various districts, including Hulu Sungai Selatan, Hulu Sungai Tengah, Hulu Sungai Utara, Tanah Laut, and Tapin. This foundational effort will pave the way for further expansion throughout South Kalimantan. "We must approach this endeavor with utmost seriousness; the total will indeed reach 500,000 hectares. I intend to personally oversee each segment. If we can achieve production levels of two to three times our current output, it will significantly enhance our rice production," Amran remarked. He also highlighted that the development of these rice fields will incorporate advanced technology for land preparation, planting, harvesting, and post-harvest management. To accelerate the establishment of these rice fields, the Ministry of Agriculture is collaborating with several esteemed companies to provide essential agricultural tools and machinery. "Fourteen companies have pledged to supply approximately 2,000 tools for this initiative. Our objective is to streamline the process, and we have instructed the Director General of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities to finalize contracts within one to three days at the latest," Amran concluded. At this distinguished gathering, formal agreements were executed by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Provincial Government of South Kalimantan, various local district and city administrations, military leadership, regional law enforcement, the High Prosecutor's Office, and Pupuk Indonesia. This momentous signing signifies a resolute commitment to advancing rice field development, aimed at enhancing rice production and fortifying national food security. "President Prabowo Subianto has urged us to expedite the vital initiative of establishing rice fields to attain food self-sufficiency," Amran remarked.

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