Balitbangtan Nilai Merauke Berpotensi jadi Lumbung Pangan Nasional
Merauke into Food Barn Supported by Indonesian AARD
Reporter : Gusmiati Waris
Editor : Cahyani Harzi
Translator : Dhelia Gani
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Jakarta (B2B) - Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Pertanian (Balitbangtan) Kementerian Pertanian RI menilai Kabupaten Merauke di Papua, sebagai wilayah paling timur di Indonesia berpotensi menjadi lumbung padi di Indonesia timur untuk mendukung pencapaian swasembada pangan dalam tiga tahun ke depan yang dicanangkan Presiden RI Joko Widodo.
Kepala Balitbangtan, Haryono mengatakan potensi Merauke didukung luas lahan 1,2 juta hektar, lahan rawa pasang surut, kondisi air mendukung, hama relatif minim, permukaan lahan datar untuk menggunakan alat mesin pertanian untuk meningkatkan produksi padi.
"Potensi Merauke juga ditunjang oleh infrastruktur, penduduk setempat dan warga transmigran ramah dan mau bekerja keras sehingga Merauke berpotensi menjadi lumbung pangan nasional untuk mendukung pencapaian swasembada pangan yang dicanangkan pemerintahan Joko Widodo," kata Haryono yang didampingi Sekretaris Balitbangtan, Agung Hendriadi kepada pers di kantornya di Jakarta, Jumat (15/5).
Dia menambahkan, Merauke dijadikan lumbung pangan nasional sesuai arahan Presiden Jokowi dengan mengembangkan lahan 1,2 juta hektar dalam tiga tahun secara bertahap dimulai dari semester kedua 2015.
"Balitbangtan akan bekerja sama dengan Pemerintah Provinsi Papua dan Pemerintah Kabupaten Merauke merancang grand design dengan melibatkan Bappenas, Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum dan BUMN terkait," kata Haryono yang turut mendampingi kunjungan Presiden Jokowi dan Menteri Pertanian RI Amran Sulaiman ke Papua, belum lama ini.
Jakarta (B2B) - The Indonesian Agriculture Ministry through the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development Ministry of Agriculture (IAARD) assess Merauke District in Papua province could potentially be food barn in eastern Indonesia, to support the achievement of food self-sufficiency as proclaimed by President Joko Widodo, according to Indonesian agriculture researcher.
The Head of IAARD, Haryono said the potential Merauke supported by a land area of 1.2 million hectares, tidal swamp land, water conditions, pests are relatively low, flat land surface for use of agricultural machinery to increase rice production.
"Potential of Merauke is also supported by the infrastructure, locals and migrants resident friendly and willing to work hard so that of Merauke has the potential to become a national food barn to support the achievement of food self-sufficiency as proclaimed by Widodo administration," Haryono said who was accompanied by the IAARD Secretary, Agung Hendriadi here on Friday (5/15).
He added, Merauke become a national food barn as directed by the President Widodo to develop 1.2 million hectares of land in three years gradually starting from the second half of 2015.
"The IAARD will cooperate with Papua provincial government and Merauke district government makes grand design with relevant agencies," Haryono said who was accompanied working visit of President Widodo and Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman to Papua recently.
