By Bernama,
Pangkep (South Sulawesi) : Vice President M Jusuf Kalla expressed hope South Sulawesi will be able to enjoy a rice production surplus of two million tonnes this year compared to 1.3 million tonnes last year.
“A rice production surplus of two million tons can be achieved if farmers can increase their farming productivity to an average of six tonnes per hectare,” ANTARA news agency quoted Kalla, as saying after taking part in a grand harvest with hundreds of farmers at Minasatenne village, Pangkep District, South Sulawesi, on Saturday.
Kalla was also asked the South Sulawesi provincial administration to defer its plan to export 120,000 tonnes of rice, saying a surplus of 1.3 million – 1.5 million tonnes was not big enough to export the staple risk-free.
“It will be safe to export, if the surplus reaches three million tonnes,” Kalla said.
The Vice President, accompanied by Agriculture Minister Anton Apriantono, also joined the farmers when they sowed hybrid paddy seeds as part of their activity in the 2008 planting season.
Meanwhile, South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo and Pangkep District Head Syafruddin, in response to press questions, said they were ready to help local farmers increase their paddy production.
According to Governor Limpo, the South Sulawesi rice farmers productivity rate now was about four tons per hectare. He hoped that next year the figure could be increased to five or six tons per hectare.
He said the provincial administration was planning to rehabilitate irrigation works, provide superior seeds and encourage financial institutions to extend credits to farmers.
“Currently, hybrid paddy seeds have been sown on 15,000 hectares of fields, and we plan to widen this area to 65,000 hectares next year,” the governor said.
Pangkep District Head Syafruddin said his regional administration was planning to construct a dam – the Tombolo Dam – to irrigate thousands of hectares of farm land.