Samarinda, E Kalimantan (ANTARA Kaltim) - East Kalimantan Governor Awang Faroek Ishak said he is optimistic the province would reach self sufficiency in rice in 2018.
"I am optimistic, we would be self sufficiency in rice in 2018," Awang Faroek said when attending a harvest in Penajam Paser Utara, in the village of Gunung Intan, sub-district of Babulu, on Thursday.
Currently the farmers grow only once and have only one harvest a year, and the rice production of the province is still 80,000 tons short of its requirement every year, he said.
"If the farmers are consistent in planting twice or thrice a year with enough irrigation we could be certain that rice self sufficient would be a reality. East Kalimantan could even contribute to the national program of self sufficiency," he said.
With production averaging 6.5 tons per hectare self sufficiency could be reached in 2018, he added.
"Every year, East Kalimantan could produce up to 500,000 tons a year . With expansion of rice fields and improved productivity, I am convinced the province`s rice production would increase," he said.
He predicted the province`s rice production would reach 608,000 tons in 2018.
"The optimism is based on the farmer productivity of 6.5 tons per hectare as proven by the farmers in the village of Gunung Intan, Penajam Paser Utara. This is very encouraging especially if the irrigation has improved, the target of 608,000 tons per year would be a reality. We would take care of any irrigation problem to ensure that rice production in the province would continue to rise," he said.
The agriculture of East Kalimantan would grow with the support of banking credit , he said, adding, low interest credits are expected from conventional banks and regional development bank (BPD).
Potential farming areas in East Kalimantan have received assistance from the center as well as from the provincial administration to boost farm production.
Among the potential farming areas are the regencies of Penajam Paser Utara, Paser and Kutai Kartanegara, the governor said.
The governor encouraged the farmers to start modern farming buy using machines such as harvest machines and hand tractors.
"With support from the government we hope farmers in East Kakimantan would start modernization in farming," he said.
Meanwhile, head of the food crop and horticulture farm office of East Kalimantan H Ibrahim said harvest areas in Gunung Intan total 14,000 hectares. (*)
