Empat Lawang, The Indonesia Post – As usual, filling his weekend on Saturday (26/09/20), the Governor of South Sumatra H. Herman Deru made a working visit to the regencies / cities he leads. This time, HD working visit went to Muara Pinang Lama Village, Muara Pinang District, Empat Lawang Regency to conduct a Great Harvest with the residents. This big harvest was held while still implementing health protocols.
After harvesting, HD admitted that he was proud of the farmers and the people of Muara Pinang Village because even though they still used semi-natural irrigation, the production of harvested dry unhulled rice was above an average of more than 6 tons per hectare.
He also committed that the provincial government would not remain silent. Even if it is possible to make irrigation with an artesian water system, his party will increase the number, as was done in Air Batu, Banyuasin Regency.
“This is good news. Now the task of the Governor, Regent and his staff. How can this production increase even more. This increase can be done by increasing the planting area or intensification” said HD.
As a regional head who is really concerned with agriculture, HD has also used the opportunity for harvest time to share tips with farmers so that they can follow in his footsteps of increasing rice production, such as in East OKU.
According to HD, he had deliberately traveled to several countries such as Brunei, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand specifically to learn farming techniques. From there, he understood very well that the discipline of human resources and farmers was the main key in boosting rice production. Because natural resources in South Sumatra tend to have the same mountains, irrigation is only a slightly different tool.
“So I once challenged agricultural experts from Taiwan to increase production in OKUT at that time. At that time, farmers could only harvest 6 tons per hectare. But Kim (agricultural expert) dared to set a target of 14 tons. As long as the farming system followed His way,” HD stories.
Furthermore, HD said it was true after the first harvest, with the nursery and irrigation following Kim’s technique, the harvest reached the target of 14 tons. Then again, the harvest was still 14 tons.
Not long after that, the peasants confronted me. They asked Kim to be sent home because the farmers claimed to have learned the farming techniques that Kim exemplified. As a result, Kim was asked to go home and then the farmers started to go to the fields as usual and it was time to harvest.
“Do you know how much rice the farmers produced? After Kim left, they still harvested 6 tons again as before. You know where it is. It’s because we are not disciplined. That’s why I ask the farmers here to be disciplined, starting from seeding, fertilizing to harvesting so that losses are lost. (The disadvantages) are not many, “HD said.
Just like when he went to Thailand, HD claimed to have paid attention to all rice produced in mills of the same shape and size. According to him, this is very different from South Sumatra, where there are still visible long, short and even broken rice. “We need to fix things like this,” he said.
Apart from coffee and pepper, HD explained that in Empat Lawang there are 13,000 lands that are ready to be managed. With 1000 PPL Agriculture that will be distributed to the City District in South Sumatra to guide farmers, it is believed that it can increase the added value of rice and horticulture in Empat Lawang.
“In South Sumatra we have divided the regional zones, for Empat Lawang, Pagaralam, Lahat. I am sure that Empat lawang can become a food barn.” he explained.
Apart from improving farmer discipline, which is no less important for increasing agricultural production is the concern of the local government itself.
Even though they have a lot of natural resources, farmers still cannot be left alone, because they need government support.
“There is no need to be grandiose. We have to be smart about reading the advantages in South Sumatra. Our human resources and natural resources are there so we just need to focus on agriculture. We have to start improving the techniques. If all this time traditional farming, planting and harvesting, now slowly we are heading to modernization, “he stressed.
After delivering his speech, HD also provided assistance to the Empar Lawang Regency Government in the form of 1 freezer unit, 1 coolbox unit, 3 power theresser units, 3 UPPU packages and rice seeds to representatives of farmer groups in Empat Lawang.
Meanwhile, the Regent of Empat Lawang, Joncik Muhammad, admitted that under the leadership of H. Herman Deru, the growth of Empat Lawang Regency was increasingly stretching.
Especially during a pandemic like this, where the regions have to refocus funds. However, with the governor’s assistance, which reached billions in value, covered the budget reduction in Empat Lawang.
“We admit that Empat Lawang is getting more and more stretched thanks to Mr. Herman Deru. The assistance provided really helps us, who have an APBD of Rp1 trillion,” he explained.
Currently, said Joncik, Empat Lawang has 13,331 ha of agricultural land. Where in 2019, the harvest produced 100,000 tons of more rice. This result is very sufficient for the needs of Empat Lawang and they can even argue with the needs of the surrounding area.
However, of the 13,000 lands, only 9,000 registered lands received assistance from the central government. Through the Governor of South Sumatra, H. Herman Deru, Joncik hopes that in the future the 4000 lands that have not been registered can receive assistance.
“I learned from the governor. How can he reduce poverty from 17 percent to 3.8 percent. You do this by working hard and earnestly and with the concept of building and imitating her farm. That way we are sure that Empat Lawang can get out of poverty soon,” he said. “the lid.
In this visit, Governor Herman Deru was seen accompanied by members of the South Sumatra DPRD Dapil VII Alfrenzi Panggarbesi and a number of OPD Heads in the South Sumatra Provincial Government, namely, the Head of the South Sumatra Provincial Agriculture Service Antoni Alam, Head of the South Sumatra Provincial Plantation Service Fahrurozi, Head of the South Sumatra Provincial ESDM Office Robert Heri, Head of the South Sumatra Provincial Bapenda Dra Neng Muhibah, Head of the South Sumatra Provincial Industry Service, Ernila, Head of the South Sumatra Provincial Health Office Dra Lesty Nuraini. (mhn/ril)
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