Agricom.id, CENTRAL KALIMANTAN - Ministry of Agriculture Indonesian Republic keeps doing and cultivating the areas in food estate as the food security program instructed by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in Central Kalimantan. Though the swamp areas are unstable, Ministry of Agriculture is optimist that by the end of December 2020, the 30 thousand hectare area would be finish (to produce).

Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) hoped that by the end of December the area process to cultivate would be finish. In the early of next year, the planting could run. But he admitted that the swamp has different contour.

“It is in good progress from the natural challenges. Some of  the contour in each region are deep and medium level. It is dynamic, not like in Java, Sumatera, or Sulawesi,” SYL said when doing work visit to see the progress in Food Estate, District of Kapuas, Central Kalimantan Province, Bentuk Jaya Dadahup A5 on Wednesday (16/12/2020) as in the official statement toAgricom.id.

He also asked that every side could coordinate together to succeed the food security program nationally.

General Director of Agriculture Infrastructure, Ministry of agriculture, Sarwo Edhy said that the targets (30.000 hectares) in food estate would be divided into two districts, such as, Kapuas and Pulau Pisau. In District of Pulau Kapuas, the food estate area would cover 20.000 hectares, while in Pulau Pisau it would be 10.000 hectares. 

"Intensification program in the province consists of 20.000 hectares in Kapuas. Until now it covers 18.800 hectares. 1.200 hectares to go. In Pulau Pisang, it would cover 10.000 hectares and everything is done," Sarwo Edhy said. 

He also mentioned that 1.200 hectares which are not finished yet in District of Kapuas is in Dadahup. "In Dadahup it is about 167 hectares. 370 hectares are in progress,” he said. Of 370 hectares, about 256 hectares are finish. “While time is ticking, it is hoped that by the end of December it would be 100 percent finished," Sarwo Edhy hoped.

He also told the contour areas in food estate. Besides labile, there are some deep cavities which should become food estate. “If there is one four wheel– tractor, and uses floating tire, it would be collapse. If the two wheels have floating tice, it is the same. The normal thing is three wheel – vehicle. It should be 60 units but only three units use floating wheels. The rests are in process to take the floating wheel from the farmers in other location. But other locations are well done,” he said.

In the very short time, he emphasized to mobilize 20 units of tractor from Pulau Pisang to Dadahup. "We would mobilize and make them effective so that in December or 10 days to go, everything is 100% done. The issue is that the areas here are labile but we try to solve everything to complete,” he said. (A2)