Agricom.id, LAMPUNG - Ministry of agriculture never gives up to increase the paddy  production to guarantee the food stocks nationally and so that the food sector is not hit by corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic. After series of paddy planting acceleration in West Java, Central Kalimantan, and Cilacap, Friday (19/6/2020) Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo did paddy planting acceleration in Village of Tempuran, Sub district of Trimurjo, District of Central Lampung, Lampung Province.

Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) told that Covid-19 hits many countries in the world. This changes everything, and the way of our normal life. That is why ministry of agriculture keeps doing the best to accelerate the planting to guarantee the stocks.

“But apart from Covid-19, we need to eat. I am afraid of Covid-19, but it is worse if I find dead men because of hunger,” he said, as in the official written statement to Agricom.id.

SYL thought that the virus defeats people but we have to fight for the virus by producing and eat good food.

“I am excited today because the governor is aggressive. I get more aggressive too to make the agriculture go forward in every region in Lampung because it has potential to the production nationally,” he said.

For information, Gerakan Percepatan Tanam Padi or Paddy Planting Acceleration Program has been running since in the early of this month. The officers of ministry of agriculture directly do it in the field to make sure that every region could realize it. In the second planting season, the targets would cover 5,6 million hectares (ha) so that in July to December, there would be 12,5 to 15 million tons of rice and the rice stocks by the end of  June would be good, about 6,84 million tons.

SYL also said that ministry of agriculture is committed to increase the rice production and accelerate the Gerakan Olah Tanah dan Tanam (GPOT), provide and give seeds, agriculture machine tools, kredit usaha rakyat (KUR), agriculture insurance, and massive development. The government nationally targets the paddy planting would cover 11,66 million ha that would potential to produce 33,6 million tons of rice; while the targets to paddy planting in the dry season until September 2020 would be 5,6 million ha.

"Indonesia has lots of advantages. We have good sunshine, vast areas, good irrigation. The people need to act to cultivate the agriculture,” he said in spirit.

“Plant the superior seeds, pour the good fertilizer, do best management, we would easily to eat,” he said.

SYL did hope that each region where there are areas should maximize the potential through Planting Index by cultivating the areas to the paddy planting, advantaging the irrigation, and expanding the new areas in the dry land, peat, and paddy print.

“We do hope that the farmers would not sell their grain but the rice. That is why improve RMU, and complete the infrastructure. Use the modern tools. Everything could be done through KUR.

To realize the food independency, he targets the paddy planting in 2020 would be more than it in the previous year.

“To realize it is the paddy planting in May to September and should be optimal,” he emphasized.

In the same spot, Governor of Lampung, Arinal Djunaidi did appreciatedwhat ministry of agriculture has done to boost thee food production, namely in the province. District of Central Lampung is one of production center that could multiply the stocks nationally.

“Do not think of Covid but the planting. The agriculture has no holiday and rest. By the presence of Minister SYL, we hope that the farmers are triggered to do whatever to face, namely in the Covid-19 which still hits,” he said.

“The province would always be there as the representative institution of the central government so that every available program could be realized,” he said.

Regent of Central Lampung, Loekman Djoyosoemarto said that Gerakan Percepatan Tanam Padi covers 335 ha by planting Inpari 32. The paddy fields in Sub district of Trimurjo cover 4.038 ha. In District of Central Lampung the standard paddy fields reach 79.664 ha within the planting targets in April - September 2020 would be 37.216 ha.

“We are in spirit to help the agriculture and ready to be one production center in our country,” he said.

“We do hope that the farmers are in spirit while the central government is consistent to support the infrastructure,” he said.

For information, Lampung did target, the planting in August - September 2020 would be 140.112 ha for the corn and 37.216 ha for the paddy.

General Director of Food Plantation, Ministry of Agriculture, Suwandi did hope that District of Central Lampung could take part to multiply the paddy production. Ministry of agriculture would support the district through the production and tools.

“In the food plantation, the helps would be the seeds, the cultivation, and post-harvest tools. I do hope that the farmers are in spirit to cultivate their areas. Let the government think of the ways,” he said.

He also encouraged the farmers to get KUR through Kostraling as the way to secure the grain price. His side has prepared KUR to the food commodities.

“Please, advantage it as good as it could namely for the mill to absorb the grain produced by the farmers within good price,” he said.

In the chance, Minister SYL also donated the helps to the groups symbolically, such as, the paddy seeds, corn seeds, 4 wheel – tractors, 2 wheel – tractors, water pumps, combine harvesters, the AUTP claim, micro KUR and KUR Kostraling reaching about Rp 325 million and also the food plantation insurance. (A2)