Cirebon Agriculture Department Works to Maintain Rice Production at 300,000 Tonnes Annually

Cirebon - The Cirebon Regency Agriculture Department (Distan), West Java, is prioritising efforts to maintain rice production at 300,000 tonnes annually to sustain food surplus. Iwan Mulyawan, Head of the Cirebon Regency Agriculture Department’s Crop Production Subsector, said on Sunday in Cirebon that current rice production in the region stands at approximately 350,000 to 360,000 tonnes per year. He added that this level still yields a surplus of around 90,000 tonnes annually, keeping Cirebon one of West Java’s key food supply areas. He noted the surplus has declined from around 110,000 tonnes a decade ago. He attributed the decline to reduced agricultural land and growing population. Distan recorded the paddy field area in Cirebon Regency at 49,690 hectares, down from 50,466 hectares recorded in 2024. Of the total area, approximately 44,000 to 45,000 hectares are used for rice cultivation, with the rest dedicated to other crops and horticulture. ‘We ensure the distribution and availability of water for agricultural land is maintained during the dry season,’ he said. Additionally, the department has mobilised government and farmer-owned water pumps and is pushing for accelerated planting schedules to better prepare crops for dry conditions. ‘This support is crucial for maintaining agricultural productivity and sustaining Cirebon’s rice production amid drought threats,’ he added. The department also reported that from January to April 2026, paddy production (GKG) stood at 139,811 tonnes, equivalent to 89,633 tonnes of rice.