East Java Rice Output Target 8.1 million tons

Madiun (ANTARA) - East Java Governor Soekarwo has set itself a rice production of 8.1 million tons in his area this year. "This amount is an increase from the originally set 7.8 million tons with some supporting factors," he said when declaring an Environmentally Friendly Movement to Prosperity and Use of Plastic Trash Ass Alternate Fuel Oil in Kaliabu Village, Mejayan Sub-district, Madiun Regency on Saturday. He also said that the target would be reached following the development and repair of rice field irrigation projects in East Java, including the reservoir in Magetan regency and the moving reservoir of "Barrage" Bojonegoro, the Jabung Ring Dike in Lamongan Regency, Bendo Reservoir in Ponorogo, Tugu Reservoid in Trenggalek, and the Bajulmati Reservoir in Banyuwangi, and some other irrigation projects. "In the first sub-round" from January to April this year, East Java has set a target of 57.9 pct of the total of 8.1 million tons of rice, and we are therefore the total would be exceeded," he said. Besides, the repair of rice fields would hopefully raise the Parks Index (IP) average in East Javad to 2.3 of the current condition of only 1.8 because the planting intensity of the farmers in a year have also increased. Besides, the repair and building of reservoirs or irrigation, the planting area throughout East Java will expand which have an effect of rice production. "In this way in the dry season the farmers in East Java would still be able to raise their crops and harvest," the governor said. He said with a parks index of 2.3, East Java would be able to contribute the national rice supply of up to 6.5 million tons, from the current 4.7 to 4.8 million tons. He also said he has sent an official letter to the Indonesian President to raise this year's government's sales price of dried unhulled paddy (GKP) from Rp2,640 to Rp3,350 per kilogram, to encourage the farmers to raise their crops. (*)