Acting Governor of Central Java, Nana Sudjana, said that the role of agricultural extension workers is considered important for increasing agricultural productivity.
“As extension workers and mentors for farmers, we must be able to increase our role. Provide extension and assistance to farmers so that agricultural products are better,” said Nana in the Coordination Meeting on Adding Planted Areas (PAT), Pumping and Guidance of Agricultural Extension Workers of Central Java Province at the Diponegoro Hall, Makodam IV/Diponegoro, Friday (2/8).
As an agricultural country, Nana said, Indonesia must be able to meet its food needs independently. By increasing productivity, it is hoped that food self-sufficiency can be realized.
“We hope that the Indonesian nation will be able to meet its food needs, meet its rice needs which are a basic need,” said Nana in front of 500 agricultural extension workers.
Various steps have been taken to achieve food self-sufficiency. Such as increasing the availability of irrigation water to accelerate land cultivation and planting, pumping, and increasing the Addition of Planting Areas (PAT) for rice.
According to Nana, the role of agricultural extension workers to make the programs that have been prepared a success is considered effective. Agricultural extension workers are the front line to socialize and guide farmers.
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In Central Java, farmer institutions and agricultural human resources include 553 Sub-district Agricultural Extension Centers, 3,222 agricultural extension workers, 272 Plant Pest Organisms (OPT) and Climate Change Impact (DPI) handlers, 86 plant seed supervisors, and around 66,712 farmer groups.
“Each officer (extension worker) is expected to be able to oversee 8-16 farmer groups. Motivate farmers, provide assistance, strengthen capacity and monitor and evaluate the availability of production facilities,” he explained.
Based on the realization report of Additional Planted Areas (PAT) in the Ministry of Agriculture’s reporting application, as of July 30, 2024, the additional rice planting area in Central Java using pumping has reached 110,265 hectares.
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Based on calculations, each hectare of rice planting area is assumed to be able to produce 4.23 tons of rice. So with a total planting area of 110,265 hectares, it can increase production by 446,420.95 tons of dry milled rice. That amount is equivalent to 268,277.73 tons of rice.
“I hope that extension workers can motivate farmers. We hope that Central Java can continue to increase rice productivity to realize food sovereignty,” said Nana.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Sudaryono said, Central Java has quite good achievements in increasing planting areas. From the national percentage, Central Java is the second province with a percentage of expansion of up to 65 percent.
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“However, the number is the largest compared to all provinces in Indonesia. Only Central Java has reached three digits, namely 110 thousand hectares. This is something to be proud of,” he said.
Sudaryono explained that the coordination meeting in Central Java was to ensure that the PAT and pumping programs were running optimally. Also as an anticipation of facing drought and the El Nino phenomenon in the next few months.
“The addition of planting area from this pumping is so that our harvest is maximized. All land is utilized to increase rice production,” he said. (Adv)
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