Supporting Farmers' Performance in Maintaining National Food Security

Supporting Farmers' Performance in Maintaining National Food Security

The COVID-19 pandemic did not prevent them from accelerating rice planting in an area of ​​276 ha from the target of 822.5 ha in Prafi Mulya Village, Prafi District.

West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan appreciated the commitment and performance of farmers accompanied by extension workers supporting food security in Manokwari Regency.

"The local government (pemda) appreciates the performance of farmers and extension workers who continue to work even in the midst of the Pandemic COVID-19, provided they continue to adhere to the Health Protocal. Wear a mask, keep a distance avoid the crowd and diligently wash your hands with soap, "said the Governor.

Dominggus emphasized that the commitment of the West Papua Provincial Government (Pemprov) to buy rice from farmers' harvests to support the availability of staple food in West Papua will continue.

Prafi District Agricultural Extension Coordinator Djaka Mastuti said, Manokwari is trying to speed up planting, because the current conditions are still available in the land, so it is necessary to plant as soon as possible before the availability of water in the land decreases.

According to him, the availability of fertilizer for MT II in Manokwari was no problem, but agricultural machinery was still lacking due to some damage. Therefore, the acceleration of MT II planting becomes crucial in early July, so that Poktans on other lands can alternate using it before the dry season.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture Instructor who is also a companion of agricultural extension activities in West Papua Siti Nurjanah explained that the steps taken by farmers and extension workers in Manokwari were in line with the instructions of the Indonesian Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo.

Then, Minister of Agriculture Syahrul invited extension agents and farmers to use the rest of the rainy season until July 2020. This is to accelerate planting to support the target planting area of ​​11.66 million hectares (ha) throughout Indonesia.

"The potential for rice harvest in June 2020 is estimated at 0.74 million ha which can produce 1.94 million tons of rice as an effort to achieve food security and available food for 267 million people of Indonesia," he said.

Head of BPPSDMP Dedi Nursyamsi added, the commitment of the Ministry of Agriculture, especially the Agricultural Human Resources and Development Agency (BPPSDMP), seeks to develop agricultural extension agents to become the main agents in agricultural development to support the performance of farmers maintaining national food security.