National Grand Panen Maret-April Predicted To Reach 8.46 Million Tons

Rice plants that grow in the Serang Regency area, Banten. (ANTARA/HO-Humas Ministry of Agriculture)

JAKARTA - Based on data from the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan), the potential for national rice production from the main harvest which will take place in March-April 2024 is predicted to reach 8.46 million tons.

"Referring to the observations of the Regional Sample Framework or KSA of the Central Statistics Agency, the potential for national rice production from the main harvest that lasts in two months, namely March-April reaches 8.46 million tons," said Director General of Food Crops at the Ministry of Agriculture Suwandi in a statement in Jakarta, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, March 2.

Suwandi said that the domestic rice supply until Ramadan 1445 Hijri was confirmed safe. This is because a number of areas have entered the main harvest season until May 2024.

"The production of rice in early 2024 meets national needs. BPS has released data on estimates of rice production in March-April amounting to 8.46 million tons. The total production of this rice is quite large, able to meet national needs," he said.

Furthermore, Suwandi said that according to the direction of the Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, the Ministry of Agriculture focused on increasing rice and corn production through three strategies, namely increasing the expansion of planting areas (PAT), increasing planting index (PIP) and productivity. "The steps taken are the acceleration of planting, pumping rivers on dry land and rainsheds, shallow wells and deep wells to supply water, optimizing swampland, also solving problems directly in the field and being present in the midst of farmers," he explained.

Meanwhile, Deputy for Statistics for Production of BPS M Habibullah said there is a large enough potential for rice production to reach 8.46 million tons in the next two months, namely March-April 2024.

"The potential for national rice production in March is estimated at 3.54 million tons and April at 4.92 million tons," said Habibullah.

He said rice production in March was 3.54 million tons supported by around 87 percent by 10 provinces, namely East Java, Central Java, West Java, South Sumatra, South Sulawesi, North Sumatra, Aceh, Lampung, West Nusa Tenggara, and Banten.

Meanwhile, April's rice production potential of 4.92 million tons is around 80 percent spread across 10 provinces, namely East Java, Central Java, West Java, South Sulawesi, Lampung, South Sumatra, West Nusa Tenggara, Banten, Aceh, and North Sumatra.

He explained that the potential for East Java rice production was 840.94 thousand tons, Central Java was 819.03 thousand tons, and West Java was 358.61 thousand tons.

"If we look at it in detail, regencies/cities with a relatively large rice production potential in March 2024, among others are in Banyuasin, South Sumatra, Lamongan, East Java, and in Grobogan, Central Java," explained Habibullah.

Then for the harvest in April, the largest rice production potential was in East Java Province at 1.08 million tons, Central Java Province at 893.28 thousand tons, and West Java at 734.79 thousand tons.

"Meanwhile, the district with a large rice production potential is Indramayu with 114.53 thousand tons, Cilacap 102.05 thousand tons and East Oku 94.14 thousand tons," concluded Habi.