Peat project best bet to boost rice production

Peat project best bet to boost rice production

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto said yesterday that changing
peat bogs into rice fields is the best alternative available to
support rice production.

"If such a project is not undertaken, Indonesia could become a
major rice importer in the future," the President said while
opening the forth congress of the Association of Indonesian
Agronomists.

He said the program to boost rice production in conventional
rice fields should also be enhanced to ensure Indonesia will be
self-sufficient in rice.

Indonesia, which used to be the biggest rice importer in the
world, became self-sufficient in 1984. Rice exports exceeded
imports until 1993, but Indonesia has had to import rice since
1994.

In 1994, rice production fell to 46.6 million tons -- the
lowest level in 15 years -- from 48.2 million tons in 1993.

The government is opening up one million hectares of peat bog
in South Kalimantan.

The President said yesterday that the project is essential
because much of the rice fields in major rice production areas in
Java have been converted into industrial sites.

"If successful, a similar project will be carried out in other
provinces," he told the 500 participants of the two-day congress.

Bambang Setiady, the chairman of the Indonesian Peat Society,
said earlier that a successful peat project would help reduce
imports of several important commodities, including soybean, corn
and peanuts.

President Soeharto said yesterday that gaining self-
sufficiency in the rice production is an important part of the
government's development program.

If the program fails, Indonesia will have to import rice, he
said. (hen)