"With local rice production of 58,000 tons per year, the province is still in need of 70,000 tons that have to be supplied from other province," Sabirin said.
Therefore he noted that there should be an increased amount of rice productivity each year in the province.
"Plan to increase rice production will begin in 2012 and the target of 122,000 tons can be reached in 2014 so that the province will no longer supply it from other province," he said.
Sabirin said that to increase rice production in Maluku, the local agriculture office would apply extensive and intensive methods for the rice fields in Buru and Seram islands.
Extensive method, according to him, means to create new rice fields by using funds from the state budget, while intensive method is by way of using superior seeds and balanced fertilization.
"We will cooperate with Public Works Department to regulate the irrigation system for the rice fields in Wayapu, Air Mata Kabo, and Kairatu Dua," Sabirin said.
He explained that more than 11,000 hectares of rice fields could be developed only on the islands of Buru and Seram with an average production of over 5 tons per hectare per year.
Sabirin said although Maluku was known as "The Province of One Thousands Islands," the rice fields could be developed only on Buru and Seram because the two islands had sufficient water for irrigation.(*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
