The rice fields harvesting in an area of 370 hectares is owned by a number of farmer groups. With an average production of 5.0 – 7.8 tons per hectare with a planting period of 110 days or 3 months.
Regent Siak Alfedri said that to increase rice production and support for agricultural infrastructure, this year many have been programmed, but have been transferred to Covid-19 subscriptions.
“Today we are here to meet the invitations of all of you, for the first average harvest of rice in the Belading rice fields. I tell you that actually we have programmed a lot for agriculture this year, but because of Covid-19 35 percent of our budget has been diverted to subscribe to Covid- 19 “said Alfedri.
Alfedri appreciated the business of farmer groups in Belading with limited infrastructure capable of harvesting rice. The program that was delayed this year was not on purpose, but because of the Covid outbreak.
“So if there is Alsintan whose assistance is delayed, we are simply facing the Covid-19 outbreak so that the budget needs to be relocated. So that we hope that next year it can meet the needs of Alsintan for farmers in Sabak Auh. Because this is a priority both nationally and district. want to increase food self-sufficiency and food security, “he explained.
In front of hundreds of farmers, he said that he would continue to encourage farmers to increase their productivity by completing agricultural facilities and infrastructure and trying to increase land area.
“The Guntung Strait has 70 hectares, which we will encourage for irrigation, so that later the planting area will increase the productivity. Currently, only 63 percent of the demand in Siak is fulfilled. If the average planting season is two, we can be self-sufficient in food,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, a farmer from Belading, Timbul Santoso, during a dialogue with the Regent Alfedri, hoped that the canal would be normalized. Because currently the problem with the rice fields in Belading is the difficulty of water supply.
“We beg you to normalize the canals so that the water flows smoothly. Currently, 70 percent of the farmers here are still using the rainfed system. If the water problem here is resolved, the production will run smoothly,” he hoped.
Currently, what is expected by farmers in Belading Village is the addition of Alsintan such as 3 units of Hand Tractors, 13 units of water pumps, 1 unit of Trans Planter and 4 units of combine Harvester.
On that occasion the Regent Alfedri handed over the aid of Herbicide rice seeds and fertilizers to the farmers. Present at the event were the Secretary of the Siak Agriculture Service, Aris, Sabak Sub-district Head Auh T Muhtasar, the Kampung Belading Idris Ship, the Gapoktan, Baznas Siak, and the leaders of Bank Riau-Kepri Siak. (adv)
