Reviewing The Grand Panen In Maros, South Sulawesi, Jokowi Hopes The Results Are Surplus To Be Distributed To Other Provinces

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (left) inspects the rice field in Baji Pamai Village, Maros Regency, South Sulawesi (Photo: DOK ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) hopes that the yield of the rice harvest in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi, will exceed the target, so that the surplus can be distributed to other provinces in need. "As a rice barn for South Sulawesi, now we see that Maros has started the main harvest and we hope that the surplus results can be brought to other provinces in need," Jokowi said while directly reviewing the implementation of the rice harvest in Maros as quoted in a written statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, March 30. According to Jokowi, the harvest in Maros is relatively good, although a number of lands were flooded, the resulting rice can reach around 5.5 tons per hectare. "Why is this 5.5 tons per hectare because it was hit by floods twice, it was submerged twice so that it slightly reduced production, but 5.5 (tons) have also had good results," he said. On the other hand, the President believes the high amount of rice supply, along with the ongoing harvest in several areas, will automatically reduce prices in the market. "Yes, we hope that starting from harvesting, harvesting, harvesting, then entering the rice mill, then coming out as rice, immediately entering the market. This means that if the supply is large, the supply is abundant, the theory will automatically drop. If the supply does not mean that the price will automatically go up," he said.

Also accompanying the President in the Maros harvest review were Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Governor of South Sulawesi Andi Sudirman Sulaiman, and Regent Maros Chaidir Syam.