This is an effort to assure farmers do not remain idle."Sukoharjo (ANTARA News) - 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.
(Uu.F001/INE/KR-BSR)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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