Minister Of Agriculture Syahrul Believes Rice Stock Is Safe Ahead Of National Religious Holidays

Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo (Mentan SYL) is optimistic that the supply of rice is safe and able to meet the public's request to welcome the momentum of Religious and National Holidays (HBKN) in line with entering the harvest period in a number of national food barn areas.

"This is on President Jokowi's orders to ensure food availability for Ramadan until Eid. We can't mess with rice, right. God willing, it looks safe, especially against Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr," said Minister of Agriculture SYL while reviewing the location of the harvest which is planned to be attended by President Joko Widodo in the rice fields area of Kartoharjo Village, Ngawi District, Ngawi Regency, East Java, quoted from Antara, Thursday 9 March.

According to him, from February to March a number of national food barn areas, such as Ngawi Regency, began to enter the harvest period. This is because, usually at the end of the year, around November and December, farmers simultaneously start the planting season as the rainy season.

According to BPS records, rice productivity is very good in the harvest season earlier this year, so food availability guarantees remain safe. Even so, the current challenges are high weather conditions and rainfall. So a maximum drying process is needed.

"The challenge from our current harvest is the drying of water that can affect the rendemen," he said.

Furthermore, he explained that the price of rice that recently rose was caused by several factors, including drying, water levels, and many others.

However, his party together with related agencies will continue to intervene, such as with the Ministry of Trade and Bulog to reduce dynamic prices.

His party also always collects reports from regional heads, both regents, mayors, and governors. Even field agricultural instructors (PPL) were also asked to report developments in the field.

In reviewing the harvest location as preparation for President Jokowi's visit, Minister of Agriculture SYL was accompanied by Regent Ngawi Ony Anwar Harsono and his staff.

According to the plan, this location will later become a place for the implementation of the 1 million hectare archipelago harvest simultaneously with several other provinces which are held virtually.