Airing Rice Fields Through Pumpization-Pipanization, Minister Of Agriculture Targets Big Rivers On The Island Of Java

Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Andi Amran Sulaiman targets the optimization of the large rivers on the island of Java. This is to optimize dry rice fields due to bad weather from the El Nino phenomenon that hit Indonesia, through pumping and pipelines.

"The rivers that we will pump include the Begawan Solo River in Central Java and East Java, the Cimanuk River which is in West Java, including the Musi River in South Sumatra. We will pump the big rivers so that we can channel them to accelerate agricultural production," Amran said, quoting Antara.

According to Amran, pumping is a fast solution that must be done as soon as possible to restore national production which had fallen some time ago. The rice fields that are targeted are dry fields with the quality of one planting.

So far, said the Minister of Agriculture, Java Island has been the main focus of the pumping program to increase Indonesia's agriculture. There the total reaches 500,000 hectares and the rest is outside Java, also with the same total of 500,000 hectares.

"In Java Island approximately 500,000 hectares and outside Java Island 500.000 hectares. We focus on Java first, because building the rice fields takes a long time," he said.

In addition to pumps, the next quick solution is to prepare free seeds and increase the allocation of subsidized fertilizers which reach Rp28 trillion. With this addition, the total allocation of fertilizers to Rp54 trillion or if converted to a quantum amount of 9.5 million tons.

"The former fertilizer was 9.5 million tons, down to 4.5 million tons. If this happens, it is certain that agriculture will be destroyed because the fertilizer is reduced. Ironically, there is fertilizer that must be fulfilled and this is even more destroyed. Now, we return it to 9.5 million tons so farmers don't have to worry anymore about the availability of fertilizer," said Amran.