Promoting Self-Sufficiency, Southeast Sulawesi Receives Additional 10,000 Hectares of Rice Fields

Governor of Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra), Andi Sumangerukka, was one of the speakers at the 26th Bugis-Makassar Merchants Meeting (PSBM) held at the Ballroom of Hotel Claro Makassar on Thursday (26/3). The Governor’s presence is part of the Southeast Sulawesi Provincial Government’s efforts to strengthen ties with the central government and promote cross-sectoral cooperation to accelerate regional development. On that occasion, Andi Sumangerukka reaffirmed his commitment to building Sultra with a spirit of dedication and integrity in leadership. “Never ask what you can get from the state, but what you can give to the state. As a leader, I hold to the principle that ‘a rotten fish starts from the head’; I must be in good condition so that the entire ‘body’ of Sultra Province also follows suit,” said Andi in a statement received on Friday (27/3). He explained that these values are not mere slogans but are formed from his life experiences since childhood in Southeast Sulawesi, particularly when living on Wawonii Island, Konawe Islands Regency (Konkep). There, he directly witnessed the sincerity of the community helping his family without expecting rewards. That experience then shaped his determination to repay the community’s kindness through real work and policies that favour the people. This spirit of dedication is also reflected in his current leadership style, including his commitment to maintaining integrity in local government administration. At the PSBM XXVI forum, Sultra Province also received concrete support in the agricultural sector. The Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia, Andi Amran Sulaiman, stated that Sultra will receive an additional People’s Rice Field Printing (CSR) programme covering 10,000 hectares. “Sultra Province adds another 10,000 hectares of rice fields to promote further self-sufficiency,” he revealed. With this addition, the total area of the people’s rice field printing programme in Sultra now reaches 24,050 hectares, up from the previous 14,050 hectares. This increase is expected to strengthen food resilience while accelerating the realisation of food self-sufficiency in the region. The programme also aligns with the Sultra Provincial Government’s development priorities, which position the food sector as a primary focus, particularly through an agromaritime approach. Under the theme “Resilient Merchants, Growing Economy” and held in conjunction with the Halal Bihalal of the South Sulawesi Family Harmony (KKSS), PSBM XXVI serves as a strategic forum to open up cooperation opportunities that directly impact the development and welfare of Southeast Sulawesi’s society.