Target of 2018 W Sumatra Soybean Production Reached 37,500 Tons

Padang, (Antara Sumbar) - The Food Crops, Horticultural and Plantation Office of West Sumatra is targeting the province's soybean production to 37,500 tons in 2018 with planting area of 25,000 hectares.

Head of Food Crops and Horticulture Department of Food Crops, Horticulture and Plantation, Maswal Noor in Padang, Wednesday, said the production amount is assumed productivity of 1.5 tons per hectare.

The soybean plant expansion program, he said, was implemented in 10 districts, namely Pasaman, West Pasaman, Limapuluh Kota, Agam, Tanah Datar, South Solok, South Pesisir and Padangpariaman.

"For the amount of planted area per district is still in process, so there is no final data," he said.

Currently, the central government has disbursed funds amounting to Rp19.9 billion sourced from National Budget (APBN) 2017 and will be added again in 2018

He hopes that by 2018, West Sumatra will be self-sufficient in soybean commodities and also start in exporting it.

While for production until August 2017, it recorded soybean production in the province until August 2017 as many as 63 tons.

The amount is far from the needs of West Sumatra soybeans that reach 241.05 tons per month or 2,892.6 tons per year, he said.

To fulfill the needs of soybeans in West Sumatra, he said currently closed by bringing soybeans from Jambi, Riau, and Medan.

"That is to fulfill the West Sumatra soybean processing industry," he said.

Soybeans, he continued, can be cultivated as intercrops in the rice fields during the dry season so that rainfed land can be used for the plant when finished planting rice in rice fields. (cha)

Editor: Vicha Faradika