Agriculture Minister Distributes Central Government Aid of Rp10 Billion for Flood Victims in Southeast Sulawesi
Kendari (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has distributed aid worth Rp10 billion to communities affected by flooding in eight districts/cities in Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra).
The Agriculture Minister, Andi Amran Sulaiman, stated when met in Kendari on Tuesday that the distribution of this aid represents the central government’s attention to the victims of the flooding disaster in Kendari City, Konawe Regency, North Konawe Regency, South Konawe Regency, Konawe Islands Regency, East Kolaka Regency, Kolaka Regency, and North Buton Regency, since Friday (8/5).
The disaster has impacted thousands of residents, inundated hundreds of hectares of paddy fields, and damaged public facilities.
“The government is moving quickly under the President’s orders. We met with the President last night, monitoring the entire country for the people’s complaints. We went directly to the field and this morning we brought solutions,” said Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman while inspecting the flood-affected location in Kendari.
“Seed aid is specifically provided for farmers whose paddy fields have been damaged due to flooding,” he stated.
In addition to logistical aid, the Agriculture Minister expressed the central government’s readiness to support paddy land optimisation programmes (oplah) in several areas, including following up on a request for 1,200 hectares of oplah from North Konawe Regency.
“This Rp10 billion is specifically for Sultra. If the paperwork is processed, for the oplah, it could be Rp30 billion for Sultra. I’m waiting for the application,” said Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman.
Besides food aid, the government has also deployed 20 hand tractors and five harvesting machines (combine harvesters) to help restore agricultural activities in the Sultra region.
During his visit to Amohalo Village (South Konawe) and Lepo-Lepo Ward (Kendari), Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman also instructed the repair of agricultural infrastructure.
He asked the Regional River Basin Agency (BWS) to complete the repair of the breached embankment within one week so that the work can be carried out immediately.