:
Oleh Baheramsyah, Selasa, 27 September 2016 | 11:04 WIB - Redaktur: Penni Patmawati Rusman - 1K
Jakarta, InfoPublik - Agriculture Ministry is optimistic to realize national rice self-sufficiency in 2016 by extending planting area up to 70,384 hectares through the declaration of simultaneous planting in 18 regencies.
Agriculture Ministry’s Expert on Infrastructure Sector Ani Andayani stated that the declaration of simultaneous planting aims to extend planting area up to 100% or 70,384 hectares in the period of April to September 2016. In the meantime, planting area extension until 20 September 2016 reached 63,491 hectares or 90.2 percent. In other words, there is still a liitle shortage of planting area to be acquired.
“To meet the target, the declaration is conducted simultaneously in 18 regencies with 10 hectares of planting area in each regency. For East Sumba in particular, the planting area is 143-hectare, resulting in 313 hectares in total,” said Ani who is also the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Special Food-Sufficieny Program coordinator when delivering her speech at the Simultaneous Planting Declaration in NTT, Friday (9/23).
From January to 20 September 2016, the total extended planting area reached 206,620 hectares. The estimated productivity ratio is 3.65 tons/hectare, so the total production would be 754,163 tons of dry unhusked rice (GKG), whilethe need of GKG is only 578,566.89 tons. In conclusion, NTT will be able to produce 130 percent rice or 30 percent surplus.
“The calculation has included the Central Statistic Agency (BPS) conversion for the embankment and other elements, as well as rice rendement of 60%,” she explained.
She continued that following up the direction of Agriculture Minister in the Coordination Meeting with Disadvantaged Regions Minister on Friday, 16 September2106, at Agriculture Ministry office concerning the food sufficiency in border areas, it is confirmed that NTT is able to be food-sufficient by building barns.
“If in the next period of October to December, the rice field is capable to produce well, then NTT rice production is ready to support food in the border areas to be exported to neighboring countries,” said she.
Regarding the effort of acceleration of planting area extension, Ani stated that on the mid of August 2016, NTT ranked tenth nationally but in the end of August, it ranked eighth. In particular, NTT reached the best planting acceleration or ranked first at 8 September 2016, indicated by planting area realization at 41.2 percent for 8 days in early September. (Translator: Erik Limantara)
