MoA Cooperates in Land Cultivation Acceleration Movement

Jakarta, InfoPublik–Central Sulawesi Food and Horticulture office in collaboration with Agriculture Ministry team consisting of Directorate General (DG) of Crops and Directorate general of Agricultural Infrastructures carried out the Land Cultivation Acceleration Movement (GPOT) and acceleration of rice, corn and soybeans planting in Donggala, Poso, Parigi Moutong, and Siggi regencies. This movement is part of an effort to accelerate and achieve the targeted replanting area (LTT).

The movement is targeting 100 ha of land in regencies of Donggala, Poso, Parigi Moutong, and Sigi.

Donggala Regency government’s Section Head for cereal crops Oktavius Palembangan hoped that the acceleration of rice planting on dry land will encourage farmers to farm.

Meanwhile, Central Sulawesi province government’s Section Head for cereal crops Arbit, invited farmers to optimize unproductive lands such as rainfed lands, yards, land under forest stands, lands with limited water resources, and lands with sufficient water availability.

Arbit added that this movement aimed to facilitate and encourage farmers to cultivation process in September to contribute to rice production in 2019. Until 24 September 2019, planted area in Central Sulawesi was 9,300 ha from the targetted 17,000 ha.

In line with this, the special efforts in agriculture (upsus) Liaison Officer Team member Roland Hutadjulu stated that currently, the central government provides assistance in the form of rice seed for dryland and corn seed to optimize lands with limited water resources.

Furthermore, Roland explained that in terms of disaster management, one of the keys to successfully managing disaster impacts is synergy and cooperation of all stakeholders. The Central Sulawesi Institute of Agricultural Technology (BPTP) also took part through water management in dry land, demonstration of corn monoculture and polyculture technology (intercropping of plants), introduction of new superior varieties (VUB) ,drought-tolerant rice and corn commodities, namely Inpago 8 and lamuru and sukmaraga corn varieties, as well as support for farmers' institutional innovation.

"Water management is a priority agenda because the main problem occurs in earthquake-affected dry lands is the low water holding capacity," he explained.

According to Roland, one of the solutions is by providing shallow water sources and irrigation using a water gun sprinkler that could save water use. The water will spread evenly and right at the point of growing plants with a range of 14 meters.

"As for the increase in land productivity, it is pursued through intercropping plant engineering," he said. (Reporter: Baheramsyah, Translator: Wilda Stiana)