The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) is accelerating the increase in national food production through the utilization of land under the Land Optimization and Community Rice Field Development programs to support sustainable food self-sufficiency.
"The acceleration of planting must be maintained with strong oversight. Agricultural extension workers, along with farmers, are at the forefront of ensuring that ready land can be planted immediately and produce optimal production," said Idha Widi Arsanti, Head of the Agricultural Extension and Human Resources Development Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, during the Simultaneous Planting Movement in Nganjuk, East Java, on Saturday.
Arsanti said the simultaneous planting movement is part of efforts to accelerate national food production by increasing the planting index on land resulting from the Oplah and CSR programs.
The Ministry of Agriculture is targeting an increase in the cropping index to IP 250 or even IP 300 by encouraging the use of early-maturing varieties, pest- and drought-resistant varieties, adaptive cultivation technology, and balanced fertilization according to the 4T principle.
According to him, land that has received government program intervention must be optimally utilized immediately to increase productivity and provide added value for farmers. Agricultural extension workers' support will also be continuously strengthened to ensure effective implementation of technological innovations in the field.
