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)