100 Thousand Hectares Of Rice Fields In Central Java Prepared To Be Food Support

Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, accompanied by Semarang Mayor Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu, after harvesting and planting rice at Mijen, Semarang, Thursday (27/7/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Kementan)

SemarANG - As many as 100,000 hectares of rice fields in the Central Java region are prepared as food buffer areas to deal with the El Nino phenomenon which is expected to last until next September.

"I need approximately 100 thousand ha (shawah, ed.) in Central Java," said Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo after harvesting and planting rice activities at Mijen, Semarang, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, July 27.

According to him, El Nino did have an impact on drought, but so far conditions in Central Java are still safe with water supplies that are maintained from large rivers.

"It turns out that there is a lot of water here. The Bengawan Solo River, the Brantas River has not receded. El Nino certainly has an impact, but we have anticipated it," he said.

With sufficient water supply, he said, of course the agricultural sector will remain productive so that it can help maintain the availability and security of food in the regions.

"Essentially, the food in the existing balance sheet is quite under control. But it should not be over confidence, it should not be excessive (confidence). Because the weather is very extreme," he said.

Therefore, said Syahrul, 100 ha of rice fields in Central Java will be prepared as food buffers to anticipate the impact of El Nino, and 1,000 ha of which are in Semarang City.

"Soon we will have a meeting where the 100 thousand ha (shawah) point is. Central Java needs to anticipate, it can't be too 'pede'. Why? Because the number of people here is large," said the Minister of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, Semarang Mayor Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu said there were at least 2,000 ha of sustainable rice fields scattered in a number of sub-districts, including Mijen.

"Earlier, the Minister said that Semarang City is one of the areas that will be used as a 'pilot project' from 100,000 ha of rice fields for El Nino," said Ita, her nickname.

For the city of Semarang, he said, it was asked to prepare 1,000 ha of rice fields as part of 100 thousand ha of rice fields throughout Central Java to support food to overcome the impact of El Nino.