"I asked all farmers to be more confident in producing rice and informed them that the government will not import the commodity anymore. So production should rise," Jokowi, as the president is better known, said during his working visit to Jetis village, Ponorogo district, on Friday.
He pointed out that the government has prepared facilities and infrastructure to improve agricultural production, including irrigation systems, tractors, rice-planting machines, combine harvesters and seeds.
"It is now up to you (farmers)," Jokowi remarked.
The president further noted that as many as 41,000 tractors will be distributed to farmers, besides other harvesting tools.
This month, the government will also announce the promised price of unhusked rice that suits market conditions and meets farmers expectations, Jokowi affirmed.
President Jokowi is on a three-day working visit to East Java from Friday to Sunday, accompanied by First Lady Iriana.
The head of state attended the grand harvest at Dukuh Jetis village, where he distributed aid to the local farmers.
Also present at the grand rice harvest were District Head of Ponorogo Amin, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman, State Secretary Pratikno and Governor of East Java Soekarwo.
Ponorogo is one of the districts in East Java that is entering this years rice harvest season.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
