Minister Of Agriculture Syahrul Limpo Asks Lampung Province To Contribute To Fulfill Food Facing El Nino

Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Y Limpo when giving directions regarding the anticipation of the impact of El Nino in Central Lampung Regency, Wednesday, August 2, 2023. (ANTARA/Ruth Intan S K)

LAMPUNG - Minister of Agriculture (Former) Syahrul Yasin Limpo asked Lampung Province to participate in contributing to meeting national food needs in dealing with the threat of the impact of the El Nino phenomenon.

"My presence in Lampung is in order to carry out a national movement against El Nino according to the President's orders, there are six main provinces and four food buffers during El Nino," said Syahrul while attending a coordination meeting to anticipate the impact of El Nino Lampung Province in Central Lampung, Wednesday, August 2, which was confiscated by Antara.

He said Lampung Province was one of the areas designated as food support in dealing with El Nino along with the provinces of West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Sumatra and South Sulawesi.

"In dealing with El Nino, we need good concentration and cooperation between the central government and local governments. Lampung as a food buffer zone directly to Java Island, the main keyword is to participate in contributing to support national interests," he said.

He explained that the choice of Lampung and several regions as food buffers was carried out to anticipate a decline in national production from various regions, as a result of the El Nino phenomenon.

"We are preparing various things related to the impact of El Nino, and this province was chosen because the rice buffer stock and the productivity trend are good. Lampung must support nationally because if it is for local itself in dealing with El Nino, it will be finished but we need help nationally," he said.

According to him, his party offered several schemes to the Lampung Provincial Government and districts to intensify agricultural land in the face of El Nino.

"In Lampung Province, we offer an intensification of agricultural land that can be 30 thousand hectares, 50 thousand hectares or 100 thousand hectares. If the governor or regent wants it, if possible, only a few districts can focus more on doing it. For us, the intensification of agricultural land covering an area of 30 thousand hectares is enough," he said.

He hopes that if at least 100 hectares of agricultural land can be properly integrated, it can contribute to the people with an economic turnover of IDR 30 billion.

"Therefore, in facing El Nino, Lampung must be the best area in increasing production and it seems that local governments are very serious and enthusiastic about helping the national interest in preventing food shortages during drought," he concluded.