All idle lands in each district areas would be used for rice fields, head of the provincial agriculture service Edi Nevian said here on Wednesday.
"There are 1,000 hectares of potential idle lands in nine regencies in Bengkulu that could be used for rice fields," Edi said.
A larger part of the land is in the sub-district of Padang Guci. The lands are owned by local people, but the people agree to convert the land into rice field, he said.
Irrigation is not a problem as there is a river in that area with enough water .
Fund, however, is needed to build a dam to hold the river water for the irrigation systems.
Edi said the district could be transformed into the largest rice producer in Bengkulu .
Other potential lands are found in the regencies of Mukomuko, Bengkulu utara, Lebong, Kepahiang, Rejang Lebong and Bengkulu Tengah.
Head of the Bengkulu Tengah farm and plantation service Durani said the district hopes to build 350 hectares of new rice fields.
In 2012 , the regency succeeded in building 250 hectares of new rice fields in a number of sub-districts.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
