Vice President Gibran Reviews The Use Of Rice Planting Machines In Langkat Rice Fields

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka reviewed the use of rice transplanters in the rice transplanter rice fields in Aman Damai Village, Sirapit, Langkat, North Sumatra Province.

In his review, accompanied by his wife Selvi Gibran Rakabuming, the Vice President symbolically handed over a number of assistance to the farmers. The assistance includes a large combine plant plant, four-wheeled tractor, water pump, and rice and corn seeds.

Gibran assessed that the use of rice planting machines is very effective in accelerating the planting process as well as increasing the efficiency of farmers' work.

Thus, this innovation is expected to contribute significantly to the increase in rice production which leads to stronger national food security.

The vice president also had a dialogue with local farmers. Gibran emphasized President Prabowo Subianto's commitment to make Indonesia an independent nation, especially through the achievement of food security.

This commitment is reflected in various discussions at limited meetings (ratas) which include irrigation issues, fertilizers, seeds, to agricultural tools and machinery.

"The order, the direction from Mr. President Prabowo is clear. We are obliged to self-sufficiency in food, and the Minister is also very intensive in the field. So the message from him, Mr. President, must always be repeated at the meeting, at the Cabinet Session. It must be an irrigation problem, a fertilizer problem, a seed problem, a mechanization problem," he said.

To make this happen, the Vice President asked relevant stakeholders, both at the central and regional levels, to strengthen collaboration to solve problems faced by farmers.

"I will ask the Minister, the Regent, and all those here to immediately resolve this problem. Once again, this requires good cooperation with all stakeholders here, especially fathers, mothers of farmer groups," said Gibran.

In addition, the Vice President also asked the Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman to strengthen cross-ministerial synergies to overcome major obstacles in agriculture, such as irrigation issues.

"Once again, I ask the Minister to work with the across ministries, because earlier men (from farmer groups) complained about irrigation problems and also their connections. So, we want this to be resolved immediately," he said.

Closing his directives, the Vice President reiterated that food self-sufficiency and improving the welfare of farmers are part of President Prabowo's government's top priority.

"The focus of the Red and White Cabinet is clear. The order of the President is very clear. Regarding food self-sufficiency, farmers' welfare," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran explained that Langkat Regency has great potential in rice farming with a rice field area of 20,009 hectares and a raw land area of 550,282 hectares.

According to him, in 2023, rice production (GKG) in this district will be recorded at 254,005 tons.

The government continues to optimize the available land to increase production. This is a huge potential that we must develop, and we have prepared strategic steps with the support of infrastructure, such as fertilizer, irrigation rehabilitation, alsintan, and so on," he said.