Bantul Regency Government Targets To Plant Rice Covering An Area Of 34,482 Hectares This Year

BANTUL - Planting rice on an area of 34,482 hectares is the target of the Bantul Regency Government, Yogyakarta Special Region, in all agricultural land in this area throughout the 2025 planting season.

"By 2025, Bantul Regency is determined to achieve the target area of rice planting set by the government, which is 34,482 hectares," said Bantul Regent Abdul Halim Muslih in Bantul, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, February 8.

According to him, the target area of planting can be achieved if there are sufficient seeds, irrigation water, and agricultural machine tools available. One of the areas in Bantul, which is boosted by the expansion of rice farming, including the Jetis District.

In addition, he said, the increase in the Rice Plantation Index (IP) needs to be realized immediately through optimizing rice planting through accelerating planting, accelerating harvest, providing sufficient irrigation water.

"The availability of seeds, the use of technology is appropriate, the use of agricultural machine tools more massively, planting on land that has not been productive and the availability of adequate fertilizers," he said.

In addition, said the Regent, the government needs to continue to increase the motivation of farmers to plant rice, one of which is the government's purchase price (HPP) for dry rice harvested by farmers of Rp. 6,500 per kilogram.

"The HPP policy for harvested dry unhulled rice of Rp. 6,500 per kilogram is expected to contribute to increasing farmer motivation to plant rice and increase production," he said.

He further said that agriculture is one of the sectors that has made a positive contribution to economic growth and in DIY, Bantul Regency has a vital role as a food barn that supports the needs of the DIY community.

"Batul is a rice-producing area that is able to produce throughout the year, with a rice field raw area of 13,991 hectares. This achievement cannot be separated from various factors supporting agricultural cultivation including natural human resources, human resources and environmental factors," he said.