Semarang (ANTARA) \u2013 Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi is optimistic\nthat rice production in the province will meet its 2026 target, as rain\nhas begun to fall in several areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cThankfully, it has started raining. Hopefully, we will be able to\nreach the target by December,\u201d he said in Semarang on Saturday.<\/p>\n
He said Central Java was one of the pillars of national food\nproduction. Rice output in the province, which has a population of\nalmost 38 million, reached around 11.5 million tonnes in 2025.<\/p>\n
From January to September 2026, rice production had reached 8.5\nmillion tonnes, and the target for the end of the year is 10.5 million\ntonnes.<\/p>\n
The Central Java provincial government had previously taken steps to\nanticipate and address the impact of drought on farmland.<\/p>\n
Preparations began well in advance and included mapping areas at\nrisk, ensuring the readiness of infrastructure such as reservoirs and\nsmall dams, maintaining tertiary and secondary irrigation canals, and\nfostering collaboration.<\/p>\n
Central Java has 242,826 hectares of rain-fed rice fields receiving\nsupport through pump irrigation, and 530,748 hectares of irrigated rice\nfields covered by tertiary irrigation networks.<\/p>\n
Crop-failure insurance has also been prepared to protect 10,000\nhectares of farmland at risk of crop failure, including land affected by\nsevere crop damage.<\/p>\n
\u201cCrop-failure insurance is there as a back-up, so that if crops are\nseverely damaged, flooded or fail, it can help our people, particularly\nfarmers, retain their basic capital,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Central Java Agriculture and Livestock Agency head\nDefransisco Dasilva Tavares said some areas had local traditions\nrelating to farming.<\/p>\n
Some areas, such as the Pantura coastal region, have only two\nplanting seasons, with other agricultural commodities grown in between,\nwhile others have three planting and harvesting seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut all farmers ultimately depend on water. If there is water, they\nwill certainly plant rice,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
To boost rice productivity, the provincial government also runs the\nPilar Jateng programme, which provides a mapping system covering land\ninfrastructure, irrigation and agricultural machinery, as well as their\ncondition.<\/p>\n
He said the information was kept up to date, enabling agricultural\ndevelopment to be planned precisely and targeted effectively.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom there, we can determine the interventions or assistance to be\nprovided to farmer groups,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/central-java-governor-optimistic-rice-production-target-will-be-met-as-rains-arrive-1793440392", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }