Sukoharjo (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said that
despite Indonesia struggling with the effects of El Nino, which has
caused a prolonged drought, the country is still able to harvest its
rice paddies.
"There are reports about El Nino, but in the field there is the
harvesting of paddy fields every month, because farmers continue their
work, despite El Nino," the president said while attending the
harvesting of paddy fields in Sukoharjo District, Central Java Province
on Saturday.
Farmers rented water pumps, among other things, to irrigate their rice fields, he added.
"Now, farmers receive water pumps from the agriculture minister. This
is an effort to assure farmers do not remain idle," he noted.
The government has been supporting farmers to increase paddy production, according to the president.
He said his visit to Central Java was not for the harvest, but to
make sure that one hectare of rice fields produces 10 tons of rice, up
from the earlier seven tons.
Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaeman said the government is assisting
farmers in using innovative technologies in order to increase paddy
production and their incomes.
"Here (In Sukoharjo), its only 50 hectares, in Karawang yesterday it was 500 hectares," he added.
"In Karawang, paddy fields will be expanded from 500 hectares to
100,000 hectares. This year, it will be implemented, paddy seeds and
fertilizers will be given to farmers for free," the minister said. (WDY)
Despite El Nino, Paddy Harvests Take Place Any Time
Sabtu, 3 Oktober 2015 20:39 WIB