TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan harvested potatoes for the first planting period in the food estate area of Ria-ria Village, Humbang Hasundutan Regency, North Sumatra. He said that the result was above the national average albeit a few of them were unsuccessful.

“According to Pak Syahrul Yasin Limpo (Agriculture Minister), the harvest is above the national average. So it yielded very good results even though it is only the first harvest season,” said Luhut in a written statement on Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

He reiterated that 70 percent of the potato yields were categorized as good production. Farmers in Humbang Hasundutan succeeded in harvesting 79.45 tonnes of commodities from the 215-hectare Ria-ria food barn area. The total barn area spans 411.5 hectares planted with shallots, garlic, and potatoes.

Luhut said that farmers will possibly plant more types of commodities in the future, such as corn. Based on the theory, he added, the next planting process in the same location will yield better crops.

In addition, Luhut confirmed that a research center would be built in the food estate area. He hoped that in two years, the center will be able to produce suitable varieties of seeds. “We are working hard for that. If this goes well, we will manage 1,000 hectares (of land),” he said.

Read: Ministry Develops Sustainable Food Estate to Maintain Security

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA