Minister Of Agriculture Amran Targets Pumpization Programs To Improve Planting Index For Farmers

Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman targets the implementation of the pumping program to increase the rice planting index (IP) for farmers in Lamongan Regency, East Java (East Java), which was originally only able to grow one or two, is sought three times a year.

"We are targeting Lamongan farmers who were able to grow only once or twice a year to three times a year with a pumping program," said Amran on the sidelines of a working visit to directly check the implementation of the pumping of rice fields in Trepan Village, Babat District, Lamongan, quoted from Antara, Friday, April 19.

Amran in an official statement in Jakarta, said that his party is targeting Lamongan Regency to be able to increase rice production by 380,000 tons. Therefore, his party encourages the optimization of the local rice fields through the pumping system.

"We did the pumping, we saw earlier, this could irrigate 16,000 hectares of rice fields, the total that was passed (pipanization) was around 22,000 hectares and it could increase production in Lamongan Regency by 380,000 tons", Amran explained.

The Minister of Agriculture ensured that pumping will have an impact on increasing production, and this increase will certainly have implications for the welfare of farmers. In addition, it can also contribute to the availability of rice supplies in the area to national stocks.

In addition, by pumping, said the Minister of Agriculture, it can accelerate planting to overcome the impact of the El Nino phenomenon that has hit the whole world.

"This (pompanization) impact is that farmers' welfare increases, production increases, then the workforce can be absorbed more, and so on," explained Amran.

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman previously handed over agricultural equipment and machinery (alsintan) with a total of Rp200 billion to farmers and Forest Village Community Institutions (LMDH) in 21 cities or districts of East Java to increase national food security.

The Minister of Agriculture handed over the aid while leading the Alert Apple for the delivery of Alsintan at Makodam V/Brawijaya Field, Surabaya, Thursday (18/4).

The handover of the aid was in the form of 3,700 pump machines for East Java. Of these, 67 units were dedicated to Lamongan Regency.

In the same place, the Director General of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities (Dirjen PSP) of the Ministry of Agriculture Ali Jamil said Lamongan Regency has 30 thousand hectares of dry land out of a total of 94,460 hectares of rice fields.

"Of course we will all touch it with the pumping program. Through this program, water will irrigate dry land and the planting index and agricultural productivity will also increase," Ali explained.

Ali explained that the pumping program will irrigate rice fields which only grow once to two or even three times a year.

"We have the potential for rainsheds of 3 million hectares. Now, the average rainshed is only once per year. Then, because El Nino, not a few have failed. For this reason, we will roll out a pumping pump to flow water to farmers' fields, "explained Ali.