Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman handed over a variety of agricultural aids to the South Sulawesi provincial government to support the province's vision of becoming a food supplier for Nusantara capital city (IKN).
During his visit to Makassar on Thursday, the minister participated in the handover of 877 thousand tons of subsidized fertilizer; 4,355 water pumps; thousands of polybags containing chili, betel, lemongrass, turmeric, galangal, ginger, and mango; and 30 units of biofloc system equipment for catfish cultivation.
"These water pumps will help us irrigate our rice fields that are susceptible to drought induced by a prolonged dry season," South Sulawesi acting governor Zudan Arif Fakrulloh said during the opening of a horticulture technical guidance activity in Makassar.
The Ministry of Agriculture also provided the provincial government with seeds of seasonal crops, such as coffee, cocoa, nutmeg, and coconut.
"This (assistance) will drive our horticulture sector to grow. We can use the aid to optimize an area of 13,600 hectares. We will also continue to make the most of swamp areas to achieve food self-sufficiency, particularly in South Sulawesi," Fakrulloh stated.
The acting governor added that the agricultural aids provided by the central government will support South Sulawesi's determination to emerge as a supplier of a variety of food commodities to IKN, which is currently being developed in East Kalimantan.
"We will be able to support the new capital city, as instructed by Mr. President (Joko Widodo). South Sulawesi has been pushed to meet IKN's needs for rice, vegetables, meat, fish, and also fruits," he said.
Related news: Agriculture Ministry aims to distribute 70,000 water pumps by Sep
Related news: Water pumping program floats hopes of food security
During his visit to Makassar on Thursday, the minister participated in the handover of 877 thousand tons of subsidized fertilizer; 4,355 water pumps; thousands of polybags containing chili, betel, lemongrass, turmeric, galangal, ginger, and mango; and 30 units of biofloc system equipment for catfish cultivation.
"These water pumps will help us irrigate our rice fields that are susceptible to drought induced by a prolonged dry season," South Sulawesi acting governor Zudan Arif Fakrulloh said during the opening of a horticulture technical guidance activity in Makassar.
The Ministry of Agriculture also provided the provincial government with seeds of seasonal crops, such as coffee, cocoa, nutmeg, and coconut.
"This (assistance) will drive our horticulture sector to grow. We can use the aid to optimize an area of 13,600 hectares. We will also continue to make the most of swamp areas to achieve food self-sufficiency, particularly in South Sulawesi," Fakrulloh stated.
The acting governor added that the agricultural aids provided by the central government will support South Sulawesi's determination to emerge as a supplier of a variety of food commodities to IKN, which is currently being developed in East Kalimantan.
"We will be able to support the new capital city, as instructed by Mr. President (Joko Widodo). South Sulawesi has been pushed to meet IKN's needs for rice, vegetables, meat, fish, and also fruits," he said.
Related news: Agriculture Ministry aims to distribute 70,000 water pumps by Sep
Related news: Water pumping program floats hopes of food security
Translator: Abdul K, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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