Added planting area increases in South Kalimantan

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BANJARMASIN, S Kalimantan: Realization of Added Planting Area (LTT) in Special Effort Program for Enhancing Paddy, Corn, and Soybean Production (Upsus Pajale) in South Kalimantan increased over the same period last year, AntaranewsKalsel reported.

“Alhamdulilah our added planting area increased and this is the result of hard work of all parties to succeed the government target for food self-sufficiency,” the Provincial Military Commander (Danrem) 101/Antasari Colonel Inf Yudianto Putrajaya remarked here on Sunday.

He was speaking during the 2018 South Kalimantan Upsus Pajale Coordination Meeting at Novotel Banjarbaru which attended by Ministry of Agriculture’s Director General of Food Crops Sumardjo Gatot Irianto.

Based on data on planting realization, said the commander, there were 55,013 hectares in February 2018, March 133,150 hectares, April 75,462 hectares and May 23,350 hectares.

While the previous period, namely February 2017 only 49,932 hectares, in March 122,150 hectares, April 68,166 hectares and May 22,249 hectares.

“The military (Korem) rank has accompanying by continuous assistance to increase the yield of fields to realize the national food self-sufficiency that has been proclaimed by the government and support the local government to alleviate poverty,” said Danrem who is familiarly called as Putra.

Danrem emphasized districts military commanders to provide assistance starting from the sub-district level by deploying subdistrict commanders with a village supervisory non-commissioned officers (Babinsa).

“Ensure to always counsel and motivate farmers by coming into rice fields in soil processing, acceleration planting movement, pest control, distribution of fertilizer and seeds and agricultural equipment till repair ing irrigation channels,” said Putra.

While Sumardjo Gatot Irianto appreciated the extensive progress of added planting area of paddy, corn, and soybean which is good in South Kalimantan thanks to the central role of provincial military command 101/Antasari.

“I see that only the land use is not maximized, so the achievement of South Kalimantan can be more than now, if we work harder. It is important to synergize all related elements to help farmers in the field,” he said.