Jokowi Wants Farmers to Increase Rice Production
7 March 2015 08:34 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged farmers to boost the yield of rice to maintain the availability of food stocks, Antara News reported.
"I asked all farmers to be more confident in producing rice and informed them that the government will not import the commodity anymore. So production should rise," said Jokowi during his working visit to Jetis village, Ponorogo district, on Friday.
He pointed out that the government has prepared facilities and infrastructure to improve agricultural production, including irrigation systems, tractors, rice-planting machines, combine harvesters and seeds.
"It is now up to you (farmers)," Jokowi remarked.
The president further noted that as many as 41,000 tractors will be distributed to farmers, besides other harvesting tools.
This month, the government will also announce the promised price of unhusked rice that suits market conditions and meets farmers expectations, Jokowi affirmed.
ANTARA NEWS