Makassar (Antaranews Sulsel) - South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo said his administration has set production target for unhulled rice at 6.7 mill;ion tons this year or 11.6 percent higher than last year`s production of 6 million tons.
The production target is not only to meet South Sulawesi`s rice requirement but also to increase contribution to the national stock, the governor said here on Sunday.
"Last year, the province had a surplus of 2.6 million tons and the surplus had been supplied to other provinces," he said.
The province is set to maintain surplus in production by using modern farming equipment to improve efficiency and productivity, he added.
The use of mobile combine harvesters could increase productivity by 10 percent as the equipment could reduce to the minimum waste in the process of harvesting from normally 11 percent to 12 percent to only 1 percent, he cited.
Rice planters could save much time as the use of the equipment could finish planting over a hectare of rice field in only four hours, he added.
The provincial authorities also have encouraged farmers to use seeds of high yield varieties.
Head of the Regional Food Security, Food Crop and Horticulture Office Fitriani said in areas where irrigation is good such as Pinrang and Sidrap farmers could have harvest three times a year.
Currently, South Sulawesi has more than 1.2 million hectares of farm cultivation, Fitriani said .
The production target is not only to meet South Sulawesi`s rice requirement but also to increase contribution to the national stock, the governor said here on Sunday.
"Last year, the province had a surplus of 2.6 million tons and the surplus had been supplied to other provinces," he said.
The province is set to maintain surplus in production by using modern farming equipment to improve efficiency and productivity, he added.
The use of mobile combine harvesters could increase productivity by 10 percent as the equipment could reduce to the minimum waste in the process of harvesting from normally 11 percent to 12 percent to only 1 percent, he cited.
Rice planters could save much time as the use of the equipment could finish planting over a hectare of rice field in only four hours, he added.
The provincial authorities also have encouraged farmers to use seeds of high yield varieties.
Head of the Regional Food Security, Food Crop and Horticulture Office Fitriani said in areas where irrigation is good such as Pinrang and Sidrap farmers could have harvest three times a year.
Currently, South Sulawesi has more than 1.2 million hectares of farm cultivation, Fitriani said .