He made the appeal moment before he broke the fast along with farmers at Karangmangu soccer field at Baturraden, Banyumas district, Central Java.
"We can increase our rice production significantly so our dream of turning Indonesia into a rice production center in the country or the world can come into being," he said.
The President said the government had committed itself to increase budget allocations for the agricultural sector. Hopefully, Indonesia would have a rice surplus of up to 10 million tons in the years to come.
"The budget allocations for the agricultural sector will be raised in 2012. Hopefully, the increase in budget allocations will further raise our rice production," he said.
On the occasion, the head of state also handed assistance to Dewi Sri farmers group to encourage them to increase their productivity.
The President was in Baturraden as part of his five-day Ramadhan safari which earlier took him to a number of districts in West Java and Central Java provinces.
In Cilacap district, the President inspected rice harvest at Sampang area and held a dialog with local farmers.
The President`s entourage included National Education Minister M Nuh, State Minister for Cooperatives and Small Businesses Syarif Hassan, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi and Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
