RI rice output set to increase 2%

RI rice output set to increase 2%

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian unhusked rice production this year is
expected to rise 2 percent over last year's 50 million tons
despite forecasts of a drought worse than the one in late 1994
which ended Indonesia's self-sufficiency in rice, a minister
said.

Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah said yesterday
that this year's rice production could exceed last year's, "given
the correct steps are taken".

"According to a meeting of Extension Service Supervision
Agency officials, this year's dry season may be drier and
longer ... which is why quick steps should be taken," he said, as
quoted by Antara.

Indonesia, a significant rice producer, had to import rice in
late 1994 after adverse weather affected domestic harvests. The
country first reached self-sufficiency in rice in 1984.

Sjarifudin said drought action preparations were discussed in
the meeting Thursday.

Rice-growing provinces in Indonesia harvest between one and
three times a year, depending on the type of rice, the climate
and the irrigation system.

Most provinces will begin rice-planting around October, at the
start of the rainy season, and begin harvesting around February.
The dry season usually begins around April.

Well-irrigated provinces may plant a second rice crop in July.

Sjarifudin said rice production this year was estimated to be
about the same as last year. Any decline would not be more than
"an insignificant" 0.9 percent, he said.

He said harvests from the 1996/1997 planting period, which was
around February to April, went "very well" because there were no
cases of plant disease or pest damage.

He said harvest areas and productivity per hectare had
increased.

"What has been harvested (in the 1996/1997 planting year)
already makes 65 percent of this year's rice production," he
said.

He said that if the correct steps were taken, the upcoming
planting period might result in an overall higher production for
this year compared to last year.

Rice production last year stood at about 50 million tons of
unhusked rice, equivalent to 32.5 million tons of milled rice.

"If this can be carried out well, I am sure our 2.1 percent
rice production growth target for the (current) Sixth Five-Year
Development plan, can be achieved," he said.

Sjarifudin said most of the vital irrigation dams across the
country still had enough water.

"What we must do next is find a way to use this water
efficiently to produce as much rice as possible," he said.

He said there would be intensive rice-planting programs in
productive areas such as along the north coast of Java.

Indonesia in 1995 produced 49 million tons of unhusked rice,
up from 46.4 million tons in 1994 and 48.14 million tons in 1993.
(pwn)