Halt rice field conversion: Soeharto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday emphasized the need
\nto maintain technically-irrigated rice fields and prevent them
\nfrom being converted to non-agricultural uses.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Agrarian Affairs Soni Harsono, after meeting
\nwith Soeharto at the Bina Graha presidential office here, quoted
\nthe latter as saying that rice fields had to be preserved at all
\ncosts.<\/p>\n
\"Rice fields can be traded but their functions must not be
\nchanged,\" Soni said, quoting Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Soni met Soeharto to report on the issue of the conversion of
\nrice fields to other uses in various parts of Java.<\/p>\n
In East Java, Governor Basofi Sudirman was reported to have
\nissued a recommendation allowing the conversion of 700 hectares
\nof rice fields and 300 hectares of coastal fish ponds in the
\nSitubondo regency into a site of an oil refinery. The project was
\nreportedly proposed by a private company controlled by
\nbusinessman Probosutedjo.<\/p>\n
\"The conversion may not pose a problem for the local
\nadministration but we must bear in mind the national interest...
\nWe must not let subjective considerations be the basis for
\ndecisions so crucial to the country,\" said Soni, who is also the
\nchairman of the National Land Agency.<\/p>\n
Indonesia used to be the world's biggest rice importer before
\nit became self-sufficient in 1984. Since 1994, however, the
\ncountry had to rely on imports to make up shortfalls caused by
\nlong droughts and diseases.<\/p>\n
In 1994, rice production fell to 46.6 million tons -- the
\nlowest level in 15 years -- from 48.2 million tons in 1993. The
\ndecline was caused by unfavorable weather and plant diseases.<\/p>\n
According to earlier reports, the conversion of technically-
\nirrigated rice fields in Java to housing, roads and industrial
\nuses has shrunk rice production in Java at a rate of 2 percent a
\nyear as the conversion reduced rice fields by a total of 900,000
\nhectares during the 1983-1993 period.<\/p>\n
Java currently contributes 56 percent to the country's rice
\nsupplies. Irrigated rice fields -- a small percentage of which
\nare also found outside Java -- contribute up to 95 percent to the
\ncountry's production, and dry fields the remaining 5 percent.<\/p>\n
Soeharto last December expressed confidence that Indonesia
\nwould be able to restore and maintain self-sufficiency in rice in
\nthe foreseeable future.<\/p>\n
To reach this goal, Soeharto has ordered his staff to conduct
\ncrop-intensification methods and expand agricultural areas to
\nboost rice production.<\/p>\n
Soeharto was quoted by Soni as saying yesterday that the East
\nJava governor's decision to allow the conversion of technically-
\nirrigated rice fields to non-agricultural purposes might set a
\nbad precedent.<\/p>\n
Soni said that industrial estates, such as the one planned in
\nSitubondo and a number of other places across Java, may be
\nconsidered a way of generating employment and expanding the
\nregion's economy by local governments.<\/p>\n
\"But big business always wants the best of any deal. That's
\nwhy we should consider whether it is worth giving them productive
\nrice fields and lose the rice the land could have produced,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Soni said the President was particularly concerned because
\ntechnically-irrigated rice fields were developed at great cost.<\/p>\n
\"We have spent a lot of money on primary, secondary and
\ntertiary irrigation canals. So all related government offices
\nmust join hands to protect them,\" Soni said. (pwn)<\/p>\n
Photo -- Page 9<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/halt-rice-field-conversion-soeharto-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }