Ministry Of Agriculture Optimizes Acceleration Of Rice Plants In South Papua Using Modern Technology

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) continues to optimize the acceleration of rice planting in Merauke Regency, South Papua, by using modern agricultural technology to increase food productivity in the area as an effort to self-sufficiency in food.

"There in Telaga Sari Village, Kurik District, Merauke Regency, South Papua Province, modern agriculture is carried out by utilizing a row of advanced machines and has used superior varieties that are resistant to various climate changes," said Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture's Agricultural Instrument Standardization Agency Haris Syahbuddin in a statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Thursday, July 25.

He said that the acceleration process had also featured thematic varieties such as Inpara 2, Inpari 32, Inpari 36, cakrabuana agritan, steady, inpago 13 fortiz, biosalin 1 and ordinary biosalin.

"Also it was introduced how to plant jarwo 2:1 and 4:1, then how to use drones to apply fertilization, AWS or automatic watering system as well as sensors for monitoring soil moisture," said Haris.

In addition, said Haris, his party also continues to organize primary and secondary channels and maximize the use of the pumping program as a means of fulfilling water for rice fields so that they can produce more than once a year.

"Then in carrying out this activity, we have also collaborated with the students of the Manokwari Polbangtan (Agricultural Development Polytechnic) and the Lampung Bapeltan irrigation team (Agricultural Training Center)," he said.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has reviewed the use of drone aircraft technology in the distribution of fertilizers in the 40,000 hectares of rice fields on Tuesday (23/7).

The simulation is a form of implementation of the smart farming concept based on the internet of things.

The President said that the agricultural sector should be the concentration of all parties, including local governments in anticipating the threat of prolonged drought and heat.

He said that currently many countries are facing the threat of a food crisis. However, the President appreciated the rapid development of agriculture in Merauke Regency.

"I see, starting from the beginning, nursery and planting with several varieties, the results are also visible, how many tons per hectare have been checked. Everything has been scientifically carried out, if you look at the field, here the field is flat, the water is also abundant, I think this is indeed an opportunity to make Indonesia a food barn in Merauke and its surroundings," said the President.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman said he was optimistic about the development of a food barn in Merauke in the future.

According to him, agriculture in the area can be a strategic initiative that can strengthen food security in Eastern Indonesia.

"All agriculture here carries the concept of smart agriculture or smart farming, which combines modern technology with the involvement of the younger generation to increase productivity and efficiency," he said.

The Minister of Agriculture added that agriculture in Merauke will be developed in stages, adopting agricultural technology such as superior varieties, soil and weather sensors, land monitoring drones, and automated irrigation systems, so that farmers can improve and optimize their crops.

"In Merauke there are 63,000 hectares where for the initial stage we have worked on 40,000 hectares first, then another 1,000,000 hectares later, we will finish this in stages," he explained.

Merauke Regency is the largest rice producer in South Papua Province with a rice field area of 42,328.42 hectares and a rice harvest area of 49,573 hectares.

Merauke is also recorded to be able to produce 189,200 tons of rice equivalent to milling dry unhulled rice (GKG) and meet the needs of the people in the province.