Lebak Rice Production During 6 Months Surplus 189,663 Tons

LEBAK - Rice production in the period January to November 2023 in Lebak Regency, Banten, was declared a surplus of 189,663 tons.

For this matter, the availability of food in the Lebak area is considered quite abundant.

Head of the Production Division of the Lebak Regency Agriculture Service, Deni Iskandar, said that rice production from January to November 2023 was recorded at 320,781 tons with consumption needs per year of only 143,038 tons with an average of 11,920 tons per month for the population of 1.4 million people.

Meanwhile, rice absorption until November 2023 was recorded at 131,118 tons, so it was declared a surplus of 189,663 tons.

So far, according to him, Lebak rice production can meet the needs of the community and has never caused food insecurity.

"So far, we have not received reports from residents regarding food insecurity due to the impact of the long dry season," Deni said as quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, November 25.

According to him, the surplus of rice is estimated to be able to meet the needs of the community for the next 15 months.

Moreover, most of the residents of Lebak still have a stock of harvested grain stored in food houses or "leuit".

The grain stock, he said, would later be used to meet the availability of family food, but currently farmers in various regions have carried out planting movements.

"We believe that the availability of rice will certainly be abundant during the harvest in February 2024," he said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Lebak Regency Farmers Group, Arsyad (50), said that currently the supply of rice in his area is relatively safe and sufficient for harvest last September.

Therefore, the availability of family food in the area is sufficient for the needs of family food consumption until next year.

"We, with 50 member farmers, are now carrying out a rice planting movement following the arrival of the rainy season," he said.