Palembang, The Indonesia Post – Inspector General of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture praised Herman Deru’s persistence in advancing the Agricultural Sector in South Sumatra.
He said this at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) Strategic Program Implementation Evaluation Meeting in South Sumatra Province for the 2020 Fiscal Year with the Inspector General of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture DR.Ir Sumarjo Gatot Irianto MS., DAA with the Governor of South Sumatra H. Herman Deru and his staff at Griya Agung, Thursday ( 08/10/20) night.
Inspector General of the Ministry of Agriculture, DR.Ir Sumarjo Gatot Irianto MS., DAA said that he really appreciated the persistence of the Governor of South Sumatra, Herman Deru, who was judged to be extraordinary in developing the agricultural sector.
“The commitment of the Governor of South Sumatra is truly extraordinary in agriculture. We have known him for a long time and he (Governor of HD) has never given up on advancing agriculture until now,” said Sumarjo.
On that occasion, he also asked the South Sumatra Provincial Government to support the program.
Expansion of the New Planting Area (PATB) covering an area of 50,000 hectares. The tens of thousands of land needed, said Sumarjo, are areas that have never been planted with rice at all. This land will be developed with the full assistance of the government. In addition to this program, the Inspector General hopes that the South Sumatra Provincial Government will take part in the 1000 broom village development program they are planning.
“We should not theorize anymore. If sector two progresses, we will push for aid even harder,” said Sumarjo.
Regarding the evaluation, Governor Herman Deru explained that what the Inspector General had announced regarding the expansion of new planting areas (PATB) and food security would be the focus of the South Sumatra Provincial Government’s attention. He also committed that the Inspector General of the Ministry of Agriculture’s target of 50,000 hectares of PATB in South Sumatra will soon be realized because so far more than 25,000 hectares of land have been verified.
“We have a lot of potential in Banyuasin, Musirawas in OKI and Empat Lawang,” said HD.
HD said that the main key to agricultural development is commitment, especially from the regional head himself. Because of that, even though he has entered the top 5 of the largest food-producing provinces in Indonesia, he admits that he is not satisfied. According to him, the increase in production must continue, especially for rice production.
Based on BPS data up to September 30, HD said, the achievement of rice production in South Sumatra reached 3,453,274 tons, and corn was 777,512 tons. The Provincial Government, in this case the Food Crops and Horticulture Agriculture Office, and related agencies assess that the potential is still quite large in achieving this year’s target, although various obstacles are faced, including the conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural areas as well as climate change.
Various efforts to increase production continue. Among other things, the expansion of the planting area and harvest area including PATB, the addition of IP 100 to IP 200 to IP even 300.
Then the use of Alsintan manufacturing technology such as Water Pumps, Driyer to Combine. This includes the plan to recruit 1000 agricultural assistants in the food crop and horticultural sector, the plantation sector and the livestock sector.
“Apart from the ease of credit, modern tools are the most important, the key is commitment and consistency. The government should not allow farmers to move on their own. That’s why I often join Panen Raya to the regions to encourage farmers, so they know that the government is always there for them,” said HD.
Besides discussing the increase in rice production, HD also talked about livestock in South Sumatra. Where currently the livestock sector is still very potential in South Sumatra. One of the things that must be packaged again is the potential for swamp buffalo in OI and Banyuasin Districts.
“But we must also think about the marketing guarantee. The supply and demand must be balanced. I am sure we can because in 2000-2003 we had become an extraordinary meat-producing area,” added HD.
With these methods, HD hopes that its aspirations for the welfare of the people will be realized more quickly and at the same time restore the glory of South Sumatra as a national food storage area.
The occasion was attended by Inspector I (Supervising Directorate General of Horticulture, BPPSDN Agriculture and Secretariat General), Ir Sutanto, MM, Inspector II (Supervising the Directorate General of Food Plants and Directorate General of Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities), Tin Latifah, SP, M.Si, Inspector III (Supervising Directorate General of Plantation and Agricultural Research and Development and Food Security), Fuadi, MPA, Inspector IV (Supervising the Directorate General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Directorate General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health and Agricultural Quarantine Agency) drh. IGMN Kuswandana, MM, Banyuasin Regent Askolani, Acting Regent Ogan Ilir Aufa Syahrizal and Acting Regent Musirawas Ahmad Rizali as well as a number of OPD Heads within the South Sumatra Provincial Government. (mhn/ril)
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