Dahlan Iskan noted that the pro-rice and extension programs would will be implemented outside Java because the availability of land for agriculture in Java has been depleted due to increasing demand for land for residential purposes.Sragen Central Java (ANTARA News) - State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan is eyeing regions outside Java for the creation of new rice fields to reduce imports.
"I am very concerned that Indonesia still imports rice despite its rich natural resources. Actually it is alright to import rice, but it [the volume] should not be that large. Therefore, we are cooperating with the Ministry of Agriculture to minimize imports, and one way to do that is by producing more rice," he said after meeting with K.H. Makruf Islamuddin, the leader of the Walisongo Islamic boarding school, KH Makruf Islamuddin here on Friday.
The cooperation covers the provision of fertilizers and pesticide assistance for farmers, to increasing the number of rice fields outside Java and to implementing pro-rice programs encouraging the cultivation of rice, he said.
Iskan noted that the pro-rice and extension programs would will be implemented outside Java because the availability of land for agriculture in Java has been depleted due to increasing demand for land for residential purposes.
"We have a lot of land, but we cannot maximize rice production maximally. So why we are focusing on land outside Java, such as East Kalimantan and, South Sulawesi and others, is because the [availability of] land in Java has been depleted," he said.
Dahlan Iskan said the pro-rice program would will be carried out in stages, as of starting this year. "In the near future, we would open 100,000 hectares of new rice fields in East Kalimantan. Later, it will reach 300,000 hectares. We cannot expand all at once but must do it slowly while seeing observing the results," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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