Not Only Motorbikes, When Going To Jeneponto, South Sulawesi, Jokowi Shows Off His Skills In Driving A Tractor To Plant Corn Seeds

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is not only proficient in riding a motorcycle, you know. Apparently, Jokowi can also use a tractor when planting corn seeds.

Jokowi's action to plant corn seeds using a tractor occurred during a visit to Jeneponto Regency, South Sulawesi Province, Tuesday, November 23.

"Earlier, my method was also new, today I can hold a tractor and it's also very easy. I was briefly taught by the Minister of Agriculture (Syahrul Yasin Limpo)", said President Jokowi as quoted by the Presidential Secretariat YouTube quoted by Antara.

The President arrived at the location to plant corn at around 13.38 WITA accompanied by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. Both were immediately greeted by the Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo. After reviewing, the President went straight to agricultural land with several farmers.

The President also began to push for a corn planter and the farmers participated simultaneously. After planting corn seeds with a length of approximately 100 meters, the President climbed a tractor that had been parked at the location.

"Earlier, we planted a planter specifically for corn, but I also tried to plant it with a tractor with a planter behind it", said the President.

The green tractor drove slowly across the expanse of land. Together with the Minister of Agriculture, President Jokowi went around one round of land.

The President said the use of agricultural mechanical equipment such as tractors is needed if the land cultivated by the farmers is very large so that planting activities can be more effective.

"I think both are good, but in a very wide area, the fastest way is to use a tractor, it's very fast. I think this kind of mechanization also needs to be introduced to all farmers so that the use of semi-heavy equipment like this can also be done", said President.

After planting corn, the President hopes that every hectare of corn land can produce 6-7 tons of corn. Meanwhile, overall in South Sulawesi Province, the President hopes to produce 1.8 million tons.

"Together, we planted 1000 hectares of corn in this district, and we hope that in each hectare 6-7 tons will appear and 1.8 million tons will be produced throughout South Sulawesi", he said.