W Pasaman Farmers are Emphasized To Plant Rice Twice a Year

Simpang Empat, (Antaranews Sumbar) - The government of West Pasaman District, West Sumatra Province emphasized the farmers in the area related to the importance of planting rice twice a year in order to increase the production of existing rice crops, Head of local Food Crop, Horticulture Office, Memizesmita stated in Simpang Empat on Wednesday.

In addition to increase the planting index, it also does such repairing and improvement of infrastructure such as irrigations, ditches and ponds.

She expected farmers should not easily divert land functions from wetland to other crops. Therefore, rice is very important existence to maintain food security.

According to her, the company targets rice production of 6.2 tons per hectare by 2018 or it increased from previously which was 5.9 tons per hectare.

She mentioned, rice production in West Pasaman continues to increase. In 2016 the area of rice planting was about 26,521.80 hectares with harvest of 24,217.40 hectares. From the land, it is able to produce about 121,217.02 tons.

The three highest producing regions are Lembah Melintang Sub-district with 26,816.87 tons, Talamau 24,666.21 tons and Kinali 17,141.80 tons, she pointed out.

Furthermore, in 2017, the planting area increased to 32,228.38 hectares while harvested area was 27,852.40 hectares with production increased to 139,795.76 tons.

It also targets in 2018, it will plant 350 hectares of rice fields with a planted area of 350 hectares and in two planting times which estimated to produce 3,500 tons per year or the assumption of producing is five tons per hectare. (cha)