Padang is Expanding Agricultural Land to Increase Rice Production

id Padang is Expanding Agricultural Land to Increase Rice Production

Padang is Expanding Agricultural Land to Increase Rice Production

Illustration. Farmer is developing agricultural land. (Antara)

Padang, (Antara Sumbar) - The government of Padang Municipality, West Sumatra, is expanding agricultural land by opening 20 hectares new land area in 2018 that is threatened by land conversion in the area.

"Over the course of five years, 35 of 7,646 hectares of agricultural land in Padang experience functional transfer," Syaiful Bahri, head of local agriculture department stated in Padang, Friday (Sept 8).

It happened because there is such changing of Spatial Plan (RTRW) which is moving towards North. While the northern part of Padang is one of the city's agricultural centers.

The opening of new land, he said, is one of the efforts in offsetting land conversion, so it will not affect the agricultural production.

He mentioned the opening of 20 hectares of land is conducted in the area of Bungus Teluk Kabung.

"There is already a willing land opened and not a protected area, the land opened will be used to print new fields," he continued.

For the opening of the land, he said, government provides funds amounting to Rp360 million with details of Rp16 million for one hectare opening.

He hopes with the opening of new land, productive abandoned land can be utilized to the maximum, so as to support food needs in the city of Padang.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Padang, Mahyeldi Ansharullah said population growth rate is one cause of land function changing.

Thus, he added that his side is making improvements to the RTRW, violations of the RTRW will be subject to sanctions.

"In certain areas will also be designed house building which at least has two floors so that it will use too much land," he explained.

In addition, community awareness is also expected, so that the conversion of agricultural land is not too drastic because it will have an impact on agricultural production. (cha)

Editor: Vicha Faradika