Purwakarta, West Java (ANTARA) - The government is seeking to improve the productivity of the agriculture sector so that it can support the food security program, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has said.
"Currently, the productivity of rice harvest result per hectare is still quite low," he informed during the opening of the 2023 Java Food Inflation Control National Movement (GNPIP) here on Wednesday. This year, one hectare of paddy fields has only produced 5 tons of rice, even though the productivity could have been more than 5 tons.
Though the government is seeking to improve agricultural productivity, bad weather and prolonged rain have impeded progress. Moreover, according to Hartarto, Indonesia is projected to experience drought next year, which could pose a challenge for farmers.
Because of this, the government has created technological innovations, namely smart irrigation and smart farming, to improve rice harvest. The two innovations are expected to increase harvest; for example, they are expected to boost grain harvest to more than 5 tons per hectare.
For this year, the government has also allocated Rp104.2 trillion or US$6.98 billion for bolstering food security. The government has allocated such a large fund since food security is its main priority.
Further, this year, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Bank Indonesia (BI), and a number of other related parties have once again initiated the Food Inflation Control National Movement (GNPIP).
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The program kicked off at Maya Datar Park, Purwakarta Regional Secretariat Office Complex, here on Wednesday. In addition to Hartarto, it was also attended by a number of other officials such as Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Perry Warjiyo and West Java Deputy Governor Uu Ruzhanul Ulum.
