InfoSAWIT, LANDAK – Though the corona virus (Covid-19) still hits, it does not stop Regent of Landak, Karolin Margaret Natasa to educate the people to move on. It was proved by planting paddy ceremony together with Kelompok Tani Coba Maju in Takiukng, Village of Sidas, Sub district of Sengah Temila some days ago.

She took the people to be productive in the Covid-19 pandemic because the people’ food should be available namely in facing the food crisis impact because of the virus.

“Everyone might know that this pandemic still occurs. But should we do nothing? I don’t think so. As the farmers, we have to be productive to fulfill the people’s needs,” Karolin said in her office, as in the official written statement to Agricom.id, Wednesday (17/6/2020).

She also mentioned that she intentionally did the field activity to know in person, what happens with the farmers and to solve the issues so that the food production runs well and even could increase.

“As the officer of the government, we do want to give them seeds, not only advice to the farmers. We have to do field check to give the good sample and get the input directly from them,” she said.

“I do suggest that the people could sustain themselves in the Covid-19 pandemic,” she mentioned.

Head of Horticulture, Food Plantation, and Agriculture, West Kalimantan Province, Florentinus Anum said that the paddy planting together with the groups is the attention of the government. In the planting season, it is hoped that the farmers could get the better results.

In the other place, General Director of Food Plantation, Ministry of Agriculture, Suwandi hoped that West Kalimantan could take part to multiply the paddy production nationally. Ministry of Agriculture certainly supports by making programs and helps, such as, seeds, paddy cultivation, and also post-harvest agriculture machine tools.

“We also suggest that the farmers could take KUR (kredit usaha rakyat) through Kostraling (Komando Strategi Penggilingan) to secure the grain price. Please advantage it well, namely for the rice mill, they could advantage KUR to absorb/buy the farmers’ grain within the good price,” he said.

He also thought that the way to increase the production by advantaging KUR is the same with Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo told to accelerate the planting. Suwandi continued that Minister Syahrul keeps suggesting the people to optimize the house yard to plant vegetables.

“By the program, the people could fulfill their needs and could be sold to get more income,” Suwandi said.

In the previous, Minister Syahrul emphasized that it needs cooperation to make sure that the agriculture runs fast. The Food and Agriculture Organization reminded that the drought would happen and the food crisis is a threat. This needs response to anticipate.

“It could be done by accelerating the planting so that the target in the second planting reaching about 5,6 million hectares could be realized. If everyone does, one thing for sure, the food would be available by the end of this year,” Syahrul said. (A2)