Facing the El Nino Threat, Minister of Agriculture SYL Prepares Mitigation and Asks Farmers to Continue Production

Suara.com – The Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo continues to work in the field with the local government to encourage extension agents and farmers to continue producing regardless of the conditions.

One of them is planting rice in Kalelantang Village, South Polongbangkeng District, Takalar Regency in order to accelerate planting to catch up on remaining rain. This was done as one of the mitigation efforts and in anticipation of the Ministry of Agriculture facing the El Nino drought threat.

For information, in addition to accelerating planting using residual rain, another effort by the Ministry of Agriculture in mitigating and anticipating El Nino is to increase water availability by building/repairing ponds, ditches, deep wells, infiltration wells, irrigation canals.

Conducting introduction of drought resistant varieties such as Cakrabuana, Pajajaran, Inpari 13, 42, 46, and Inpago. In addition, 1,000 ha of commodity development was also carried out as well as massive and independent development of organic fertilizers.

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“In the past, during Covid, we were still down. The result is that 280 million of our population needs food safely. And, today, we are present here is proof of commitment as well as gratitude to Allah SWT for the results achieved so far,” said the Minister of Agriculture.

As is known, for about two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, the agricultural sector has become one of the pillars of the national economy. Since 2019, the value of agricultural exports has increased, including in 2022 it has increased to 658.18 trillion, an increase of 6.79% compared to 2021, with an export value of IDR 616.35 trillion.

“Thank God, sir, our agricultural exports continue to grow. And our target is 1000 trillion, please pray and support,” he added.

Assistant for Government and People’s Welfare Kab. Takalar, Andi Rijal Mustamim, expressed his respect and gratitude for the presence of the Minister of Agriculture SYL and the ranks.

“The presence of the Minister is an honor and a blessing for our village. This event is very special, why? Because in the midst of his busy schedule, the Minister of Agriculture is pleased to fulfill an invitation from a Village Head, this is proof, showing he is indeed a black pearl from the east,” said Andi Rijal .

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In the same place, the Director General of Food Crops, Suwandi said that the rice planting movement (Gertam) program in Takalar Regency was targeted at 1,000 hectares as a form of action from the Minister’s instructions as part of the national movement to face the threat of El Nino and the global food crisis.

“Each district is targeted at a minimum of 1,000 hectares of catch-up planting with various series of accelerated harvest activities, food stock buffers, a maximum distance of 10-15 days from harvest to planting so we have to chase water, chase outside seedling, insurance, KUR, offtaker, partnerships from downstream,” he concluded

Kelvin added that for those in alert areas and safe areas, an approach was taken by pursuing planting and productivity indices.

“For drought-prone areas, compensation for planting elsewhere is needed, and optimization of water sources,” he concluded.