Bukittinggi Rice Cultivation Area Reached 568 Hectares

id Bukittinggi Rice Cultivation Area Reached 568 Hectares

Bukittinggi Rice Cultivation Area Reached 568 Hectares

Illustration. Farmers in Bukittinggi plants paddy. (Antara)

Bukittinggi, (Antara Sumbar) - Government of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra stated that the realization of rice cultivation area has reached 568 hectares from the target of 1,032 hectares or 55.04 percent in 2017.

Head of Food Crops, Plantation and Horticulture Division of local Agriculture and Food Agency, Teti Adrianis in Bukittinggi, on Thursday (Sept 14) said there were additional targets of several hectares from the start of the year set for the region.

"The target of the province increases and it is larger than the city target of 795.98 hectares. The city target is determined by considering availability of existing land," he explained.

He mentioned that the area of rice field in Bukittinggi is only available 386.67 hectares and spread in Guguk Panjang 12,73 hectares, Mandiangin Koto Selayan 190,88 hectares and Aur Birugo Tigo Baleh 185,06 hectares.

While the rice that is grown by many landowners is kusuik kuriak and paddy with an average planting period of 4.5 to 5.5 months.

"In Bukittinggi, it is not possible to develop new fields so that there should be 2.1 crop index to reach the target," he stated.

In addition, farmers are also encouraged to plant saganggam panuah type of rice which is shorter planting period of 110 days and apply row legowo for planting so that it can provide space irradiation and fertilizer easier.

"For Bukittinggi people, kusuik and putih kucing are the most popular because of its delicious taste, but to reach the target from our province encourage farmers to plant species that grow shorter and this is still experimental, or does not applied to all regions yet," he explained.

In 2017, the planting of saganggam panuah species is in the process of applying in Tigo Baleh area and used as a pilot in Bukittinggi.

"Because of high target, we urge farmers to hasten rice cultivation or do not extend the fallow period so that planting targets can be equally fulfilled," he said. (cha)

Editor: Vicha Faradika