Major Rice Harvest from 10-Hectare Demonstration Plot in Klaten Yields 9 Tonnes per Hectare
The major harvest of a 10-hectare rice demonstration plot in Wonosari Village, Truk District, Klaten Regency, Central Java, achieved a yield of 8-9 tonnes per hectare. The demonstration plot was implemented through cooperation between the Ngudi Makmur Farmer Group and PT Langgeng Asri Makmur.
The harvest took place on Saturday, 14 March, and was attended by Deputy Chair of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives Abdul Kharis Almasjhari, Deputy Chair of the Klaten Regional Representative Council Haryanto, Military Commander of Klaten Dandim 0723, Head of Klaten Police Regional Crime Unit, and Head of the Klaten Food Security and Agriculture Office.
Wahyu Prasetyo, Marketing Director of PT Langgeng Asri Makmur, stated that the Ngudi Makmur Farmer Group received petroorganic fertiliser from PT Langgeng Asri Makmur for the implementation of the 10-hectare rice demonstration plot. Rice production from the demonstration plot increased significantly after being fertilised with petroorganic fertiliser. Based on crop measurement results, production reached 8-9 tonnes of dry harvested rice per hectare, representing an increase of 1-1.5 tonnes compared to yields before using petroorganic fertiliser.
“Following the proven success of the 10-hectare rice demonstration plot, the next demonstration plot, as desired by the Deputy Chair of Commission IV of the House of Representatives, will be carried out again in Wonosari Village during the second planting season with an area of 30 hectares,” said Wahyu Prasetyo.
Iwan Kurniawan, Head of the Klaten Food Security and Agriculture Office, welcomed the successful harvest of the 10-hectare rice demonstration plot, which resulted from good cooperation between the Ngudi Makmur Farmer Group of Wonosari Village and PT Langgeng Asri Makmur.
On this occasion, Iwan reminded farmers that the use of petroorganic fertiliser is highly beneficial for crops, particularly in providing resistance against plant pest organisms. However, farmers have traditionally preferred chemical fertilisers. “It should be noted that with organic fertiliser, rice plants do not easily collapse. For this reason, we ask farmers to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers and increase organic fertiliser. This is clear evidence that demonstration plots using organic fertiliser show increased yields,” he said.
Abdul Kharis Almasjhari, Deputy Chair of Commission IV of the House of Representatives, expressed that the results of the 10-hectare rice demonstration plot in Wonosari Village are extraordinary. The yield of up to 9 tonnes per hectare is remarkable, whereas typical yields are usually 6-7 tonnes per hectare. “Thank you to the Ngudi Makmur Farmer Group for successfully carrying out the 10-hectare demonstration plot that we conducted in cooperation with PT Langgeng Asri Makmur. The rice harvest results from this village are good and warrant conducting further demonstration plots,” he said.
To the Ngudi Makmur Farmer Group of Wonosari Village, Abdul Kharis promised that if the results of the second planting season’s 30-hectare demonstration plot are good, he will invite or bring Commission IV Chair of the House of Representatives Titik Soeharto. For this reason, the second planting season demonstration plot is expected to be well managed and maintained.
“Why must we focus on food sovereignty, as emphasised in President Prabowo’s priority programme, which states that in 2025 there will be no rice imports. Production last year reached 37.4 million tonnes, whilst demand is 34 million tonnes,” he explained.